TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Departmental Expenditure

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 18 January 2002, Official Report, column 508W, on departmental expenditure, whether the figure provided was net of the additional annually managed spending that was incurred because of the refinancing scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The savings figure quoted in my answer of 18 January 2002 was net of the additional annually managed spending that was incurred because of the refinancing scheme.
	The capital spend, together with interest, will be recovered through future loan repayment flows to ECGD.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money Capita- administered schemes within the Department have paid out since 1997–98.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth.

Patricia Hewitt: Central records indicate that there are currently three live contracts with Capita with a total value of £43,785.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department.

Patricia Hewitt: Such historical information is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

LNM Group

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she received from other Ministers requests for advice in connection with the attempted acquisition of Sidex by the LNM Group.

Patricia Hewitt: I received no such requests.

LNM Group

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy objectives were furthered by her predecessor's visit to India to discuss the purchase of Air India by LNM Holdings.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The objective of my right hon. Friend's visit to India in January 2001 was to further strengthen the bilateral trade and investment relationship between the United Kingdom and India.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 1059W, what the cost of refurbishing each Ministerial private office was in each year since May 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The costs of refurbishing the ministerial private offices, since May 1997, is set out in the table. All costs are inclusive of VAT.
	
		
			 Financial year £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 12,605 
			 1998–99 16,780 
			 1999–2000 — 
			 2000–01 6,571 
			 2001–02 4,500

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is not held centrally and would involve disproportionate cost to produce. Regulatory impact assessments are produced for all proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on businesses in the UK and are generally made available in the Libraries of the House. We do not hold information on the costs to public funds of implementation.

Dams

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list applications for export credit guarantee for dams, indicating the stage each application has reached.

Patricia Hewitt: There is one current application for ECGD support for dams.
	
		
			 Project Stage reached 
		
		
			 Yusufeli (Turkey) Awaiting information on environmental and social impacts of the project before further consideration of the application 
		
	
	No decision has been made by ECGD. ECGD cover will only be considered if key impacts—including social, environmental and human rights factors—are properly addressed and if the financial risk is acceptable.

External Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations, who previously held contracts with the Department won new contracts at (a) the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) after a period of inactivity with the Department in each of the past five years.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This information is not held centrally and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Steel Industry

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of over-capacity in the global steel industry; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 February 2002
	There is no precise estimate of global over-capacity as this can vary considerably according to the basis on which it is assessed. Estimates vary widely from under 80 million tonnes a year to over 200 million tonnes a year.

Steel Industry

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the future of the Nova Hut steel plant in the Czech Republic.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 1 March 2002
	I receive representations from many groups eager to press their case.

Steel Industry

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions officials and Ministers in her Department have had with LNM Holdings about the future of the Nova Hut steel plant in the Czech Republic.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 1 March 2002
	Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release specific details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Enterprise Grants (Coalfield Areas)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bids under the Enterprise Grant scheme have been made by businesses within the former coalfield area of south Derbyshire since 1999; and what the value was of grants awarded.

Alan Johnson: Since the scheme start date in January 2000 GOEM has received four applications from business in eligible wards within southern Derbyshire. The total value of grants awarded is £70,000.

Telecommunication Services

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the percentage of UK households and businesses able to receive ADSL telecommunication services.

Douglas Alexander: Oftel's broadband brief published in February 2002 states that 60 per cent. of UK consumers and businesses are within the area of a DSL enabled exchange, and that 90 per cent. of those can obtain ADSL services with current technology. In addition, cable networks pass approximately 50 per cent. of UK households, providing an alternative route to broadband.

Knowledge Transfer Initiatives

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the value and effectiveness of regional knowledge transfer initiatives.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 February 2002
	My Department sponsors a number of targeted programmes which seek to help business access and use knowledge gained from research in British and overseas universities and research and technology organisations. We also provide support to help the science base grow its capability to interact with business and realise the business opportunities offered by science. For example, the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), which incorporates the earlier Higher Education Reach-Out to Business and the Community Fund (HEROBC), has incorporated a regional assessment alongside other criteria.
	As the earliest HEROBC projects have only been running for just over two years it is still too soon for full evaluation. Early indications suggest that these initiatives are helping to improve the capacity of higher education institutions to carry out knowledge transfer.

Knowledge Transfer Initiatives

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the value and effectiveness of knowledge transfer initiatives sponsored by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 February 2002
	My Department sponsors a number of targeted programmes which seek to help business access and use knowledge gained from research in British and overseas universities and research and technology organisations. We also provide support to help the science base grow its capability to interact with business and realise the business opportunities offered by science. Each of these programmes is evaluated on a regular basis and, if necessary, the programme may be amended or terminated if it fails to achieve its targets.
	I am presently conducting an intensive review of the totality of business support within DTI which will further ascertain whether there is scope for improving the effectiveness of all our programmes, including those dealing with knowledge transfer. The results to date indicate that business end-users are broadly satisfied with the aims and effectiveness of knowledge transfer programmes but that there is scope for reducing their number to reduce confusion and to increase critical mass of the major programmes.

Press Releases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many press releases were issued by her Department (a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive.

Patricia Hewitt: The DTI issued the following number of press releases in these years:
	
		
			   Number of press releases 
		
		
			 1997(1) 572 
			 1998 1,064 
			 1999 1,064 
			 2000 873 
			 2001 739 
		
	
	(1) 1 May to 31 December

Press and Public Relations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in her Department on 1 January in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: The number of Press Officers was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of press officers 
		
		
			 1 January 1997 20 
			 1 January 1998 17 
			 1 January 1999 24 
			 1 January 2000 25 
			 1 January 2001 23 
			 1 January 2002 23

Waste Goods

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive on the illegal disposal of waste goods; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is still in draft. We are currently at Common Position stage, and for this reason we have not yet made any such assessment.
	The directive requires distributors to take back waste electrical goods free of charge to the end user. This take-back provision may be in-store, on delivery or through an alternative arrangement, eg kerbside collection. Furthermore, the directive requires members states to ensure that users are given necessary information about the return and collection systems available to them and about their role in contributing to re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE.
	We therefore believe that the directive will make a positive contribution to increasing the amount of waste electrical goods recovered and recycled and we see no reason to anticipate an increase in the illegal abandoning of WEEE in public places.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equal Pay

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on her policy towards gender pay inequalities in the context of paragraph 27 of the Laeken conclusions.

Patricia Hewitt: In paragraph 27 of the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council meeting in Laeken on 14 and 15 December 2001, the Council noted with interest the list of indicators of gender pay inequalities. This Government are fully committed to reducing the gender pay gap and therefore support the indicators proposed in the Belgian Presidency's report.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what research has been undertaken to address the observations made in Cm3960, summary of the report, paragraph 19, concerning the downgrading of crimes.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 14 February 2002
	Sir Iain Glidewell noted statistical evidence showing that charges are sometimes downgraded. He found no evidence that downgrading happens when it should not; but he recommended that the Inspectorate should examine cases of downgrading during inspections and research into the reasons why charges are downgraded.
	Following publication of the report the CPS Inspectorate (which has subsequently become independent of the CPS, reporting directly to the Attorney-General), has regularly devoted a section of its biennial reports on all CPS areas to downgrading of charges and the application of common charging standards agreed between the police and the CPS. In his Annual Report for 1999–2000, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector noted that in some 22 per cent. of cases to which charging standards applied the police had selected inappropriate charges. In almost all cases, the inspectors agreed that the CPS had then applied the charging standards correctly, usually to downgrade but sometimes to upgrade the charge.
	In the recently published "Review of the Criminal Courts of England and Wales", Sir Robin Auld refers to this research as part of the justification for recommending that the CPS should assume from the police a greater responsibility for determining the charges at the outset of criminal proceedings.

TREASURY

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  in how many cases (a) Customs and Excise and (b) a bailiff has distrained possessions for failure to pay the climate change levy; what was the value of goods distrained; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  in how many cases Customs and Excise has commenced criminal proceedings for fraud involving the climate change levy;
	(3)  how many penalties have been imposed to date in respect of the climate change levy for (a) failure to produce information and records, (b) failure to preserve records, (c) ceasing to carry out taxable supplies and (d) failure to render returns and otherwise comply with the regulations;
	(4)  how many registration penalties in respect of the climate change levy have been imposed;
	(5)  how many non-resident payers of the climate change levy have received a penalty for failure to submit a request to appoint a tax representative;
	(6)  in how many cases Customs and Excise has imposed a five per cent. penalty for (a) under declaration and (b) over claiming credit in respect of the climate change levy;
	(7)  in how many cases Customs and Excise has imposed penalties for evasion of the climate change levy.

Dawn Primarolo: No penalties have been imposed, possessions distrained or criminal proceedings commenced for failure to comply with the legal requirements governing climate change levy. This reflects our commitment to improve compliance through education rather than by penalising with enforcement action during the introduction of the levy.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on the British plastics industry;
	(2)  what review he has carried out of the compliance costs to British industry of the climate change levy in the light of experience since 1 April 2001;
	(3)  what steps he has taken to consult (a) business organisations and (b) individual companies about the impact of the climate change levy since its introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of the normal process of contact with business, the Chancellor and the Treasury ministerial team have met with a variety of business organisations and individual companies since 1 April last year, and have heard a variety of representations on tax, including climate change levy, and on other matters.
	The levy package is expected to be broadly revenue-neutral for both industry and the service sector as a whole. However, the effect on any individual company or sector will depend on a number of factors, including their level of energy efficiency, use of renewables and CHP, and the extent to which they make investments which qualify for enhanced capital allowances.
	The levy was developed in close consultation with business, and many of the proposals put forward during that consultation are reflected in the final design.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has made to the European Commission; and what evidence he has submitted to their investigation into the climate change levy dual fuel use exemption;
	(2)  if he will make a statement in the (a) scope, (b) progress and (c) expected timetable of the Commission's investigation with the climate change levy double fuel use exemption.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK has presented a strong case backed by robust evidence to the European Commission in support of the climate change levy dual-use exemption. We continue to press the Commission strongly for an early and favourable decision in the matter.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to extend liability for the climate change levy to (a) voluntary aided schools, (b) foundation schools and (c) city technology colleges.

Dawn Primarolo: Eligibility for exemption from the climate change levy (for fuel for domestic or non-business use by charities) mirrors eligibility for the reduced rate of VAT on fuel and power. Exemption from the levy for voluntary aided schools, foundation schools and city technology colleges therefore depends on their having charitable status. There are no plans to change this.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out the Government's intentions concerning the relationship between enhanced capital allowances available for energy-saving technologies under the climate change levy and the enhanced capital allowances for tackling climate change and improving air quality which are proposed under the Green Technology Challenge.

Paul Boateng: As part of the climate change levy package, the Government introduced a scheme of enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for investments in qualifying energy-saving technologies. The Green Technology Challenge consultation revealed strong support for offering ECAs on a wider range of energy- saving technologies. As stated in PBR 2001 the Government propose to introduce further ECAs in this area and these will be incorporated into the existing ECA scheme.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the British lime industry of his decision to withdraw the exemption from the climate change levy for fuel used in kilns;
	(2)  what the reasons were for the Government's decision to withdraw the exemption from the climate change levy for fuel used in lime kilns;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on the competitiveness of the British lime industry.

Dawn Primarolo: Energy used in lime kilns is currently treated as being exempt from the levy. This concession has been agreed to last for a period of four years, and reflects a misunderstanding before the start of the tax that energy was being used for non-fuel purposes. When tax becomes chargeable, the fuel used in lime kilns will be eligible for 80 per cent. levy discounts.
	The climate change levy only became operational in April 2001, so it is too early to assess its impact properly.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for registration for the climate change levy have been received by Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: 269 climate change levy registration requests have been received by HM Customs and Excise.

Pension Annuities

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reform the pension annuities system.

Ruth Kelly: For some time the Government have actively encouraged innovation in the annuity market to improve benefits for customers. As a continuation of this, the pre-Budget report on 27 November announced its intention to publish a consultation document on increasing flexibility and competition in the annuity market.
	This consultation document, called 'Modernising Annuities', was issued on 5 February and is intended to stimulate discussion on annuity issues. The consultation period will run until 5 April and the Government will then consider the responses carefully before deciding how to proceed.

Fuel Fraud

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the present levels of civil penalty for oils frauds were introduced;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase the levels of civil penalties for oils frauds.

Dawn Primarolo: Civil penalties for all excise regimes, including oils, were introduced in the Finance Act 1994. Penalties are imposed for regulatory breaches, or failures in the duty of care.
	As stated in the document "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" I have asked HM Customs and Excise to consider the imposition of tougher penalties, including civil penalties, against those engaged in the supply of fuels for illicit purposes, or for those found using those fuels in road vehicles.

VAT (Housing Developments)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to end the zero-rating for VAT of new building on greenfield sites;
	(2)  if he plans to undertake research into the impact of removing the VAT incentive to develop greenfield rather than brownfield sites.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

Incinerators

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is towards the possibility of a tax on incinerators.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plan for an incineration tax. The Government will consider the (scope of the) taxation of waste in the context of the Performance and Innovation Unit waste review.

Landfill

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the Government's policy that the landfill tax should continue to be revenue-neutral.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have introduced the landfill tax escalator, which increases the rate by £1 per tonne each year until 2004. Despite the escalator, receipts from the landfill tax are lower than the value of the 0.2 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions that accompanied the landfill tax.

Landfill

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to begin formal consultation on a replacement for the landfill credit scheme.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government will launch a consultation paper shortly on the future of the landfill tax credit scheme, including potential transition arrangements.

Tobacco Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the percentage of UK cigarette consumption in 2001–02 accounted for by smuggled cigarettes.

Dawn Primarolo: No estimate is available.

Research and Development Tax Credit

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that the proposed scheme for a research and development tax credit for larger companies should incorporate environmental criteria.

Dawn Primarolo: The objective of the proposed tax credit is to raise the level of research and development in the UK, leading to improved competitiveness and quality of life. Qualifying expenditure will include environmentally beneficial research and development.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last four years giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each.

Ruth Kelly: Records are not maintained centrally. Information in the format required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury, HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue made 168 instruments in the 12-month period up to January 2002. Many of the instruments introduced were of a routine nature, for example approving annual fee increases. The HMSO SI Registrar (Siregistrar@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk) can provide a list of statutory instruments which have been issued by individual Government Departments. Instruments which have been originated by Departments but eventually made by the Privy Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office.
	The costs associated with regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A regulatory impact assessment is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs. HM Treasury, HM Customs and HM Inland Revenue have produced 19 final RIAs in this period. These are available from the House Libraries and are available on departmental websites.

Aviation Insurance

Alan Hurst: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the operation of the Troika excess premium scheme for airport insurance.

Andrew Smith: The Troika scheme, which provides temporary replacement third party insurance for aviation terrorist risks, charges premiums in accordance with European Commission guidelines. The guidelines are reviewed at monthly meetings of a European Commission ad hoc group on the market for aviation insurance. The guidelines have set premiums for insurance for airports under member state schemes at 33 per cent. of the premium charged under the primary policy to which insurance premium tax (IPT) applies.
	At the last ad hoc group meeting on 15 February, a decision was made not to change the guidelines, so the premiums charged to airports remain unchanged.

Anti-terrorism Campaign

David Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the UK of participation in the campaign against terrorism.

Andrew Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 26 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1133–34W, which set out the level of MOD spending on Afghanistan.

VAT Registrations

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods he uses to assess whether legitimate traders applying to register for VAT are being unduly inconvenienced by checks carried out by HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs work to a Charter Standard for the processing of applications for VAT registration. This requires Customs to process 95 per cent. of properly completed applications within 15 working days of receipt. As at January 2002 (latest data compiled), the Charter Standard for processing VAT registration applications was being achieved.
	Customs selectively apply extended checks aimed at identifying fraudulent applications. These cases are monitored on an individual basis to ensure a balanced approach between facilitating business and protecting the revenue.

VAT Registrations

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of checks carried out by VAT registration centres were carried out manually in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

VAT Registrations

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the target times to complete and process VAT registrations and deregistrations are; and how many applications to register and deregister and what proportion of all such applications are dealt with within those time scales.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs work to a Charter Standard to process 95 per cent. of properly completed applications for VAT registration within 15 working days of receipt.
	In the current financial year to the end of January 2002, Customs received 169,082 applications for VAT registration and achieved the Charter Standard.
	Customs received 127,725 applications for deregistration in the same period. There is no Charter Standard for deregistration processing although it is Customs' policy to deal with these promptly.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

GAVI

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in research and development of new vaccines for developing countries since the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation was set up.

Clare Short: GAVI is expected to begin funding research later this year. In the course of developing its strategy for investing in vaccine research, GAVI has prioritised research into vaccines against diarrhoea, pneumonia and meningitis. Reasons for the choice of these three include (i) the burden of disease and potential positive impact of an effective vaccine on child health; and (ii) the likelihood that investment would culminate in availability of effective vaccines against these diseases within five to seven years.

GAVI

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans have been made by the international community to continue to supply vaccines when Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation funding ceases.

Clare Short: The GAVI partnership provides financial support through a separate entity, the Vaccine Fund. Countries that receive Vaccine Fund support for new vaccines or to improve their vaccine delivery systems are expected to provide plans for financial sustainability to the GAVI Board at mid-term. The financial sustainability plan, which must be endorsed by the Ministry of Finance, sets out the country's long-term strategy for ensuring funding from internal and/or external sources when Vaccine Fund support for the country's immunisation programme ceases.

GAVI

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by GAVI in vaccination rates broken down (a) by country and (b) by disease.

Clare Short: Although GAVI has made rapid progress since its inception two years ago, it is still too early to provide the information requested. To date, 64 of the 74 countries eligible for GAVI support have applied, and applications from 53 of these countries have been approved.
	If the countries approved to date implement their proposals as planned, the number of infants receiving routine immunisations (against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio) will increase from 54.6 million in 2000 to 77 million in 2007; over the same period the numbers vaccinated against hepatitis B will increase from 14.5 million to 59 million, the numbers vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae type B will increase from 39,000 to 6 million, and the numbers vaccinated against yellow fever will increase from 78,000 to 1.9 million.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Elite Sports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she has taken following the Elite Sports Funding Review published in August 2001.

Richard Caborn: The Elite Sports Funding Review chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) identified over 40 recommendations, the large majority of which are for the Sports Councils and National Governing Bodies of sport to take forward. The Review was discussed at the Sports Cabinet on 31 October, chaired by the Secretary of State. The Cabinet beings together the Sports Ministers and chairmen of the Sports Councils from each of the devolved Administrations. At the Cabinet, the Sports Councils accepted and are now implementing the overwhelming majority of the recommendations. My Department is considering the remaining recommendations which would require additional funding in the context of the current spending review.

Rugby Funding

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1117W, on lottery support for rugby league and rugby union, how many applications have been made to the Sports Lottery Fund by rugby league and rugby union clubs; and what percentage were unsuccessful.

Richard Caborn: 380 applications including 313 under the Awards for All programme have been received from rugby league clubs of which 62 per cent. were unsuccessful, and 776 application including 465 under the Awards for All programme have been received from rugby union clubs of which 50 per cent. were unsuccessful, since the start of the National Lottery.

Community Sport (North-west)

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Minister for Sport's answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 435, to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston, on Community Sport (North-west), if she will publish her plans to restructure Sport England to improve regional performance.

Richard Caborn: In terms of delivering and supporting sport development through revenue programmes, guidance and advice, Sport England regional offices are well placed to take a strategic lead locally. DCMS is currently completing the second stage of the quinquennial review of Sport England, which included a specific element relating to Sport England's regional role and structure. I have discussed the review's emerging findings with the new Chief Executive of Sport England and with Sport England's council members, with a view to implementing the recommendations on Sport England's regional presence as promptly as possible.

Sport England

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the Central Council for Physical Recreation, (b) sports governing bodies and (c) the UK Sports Council about the future structure of Sport England.

Richard Caborn: DCMS is currently completing the second stage of the quinquennial review of Sport England, in which we are looking at its strategic management function, its regional role, and the way in which it carries out partnership working and forges alliances. This stage of the review was taken forward by a series of working groups which included representatives from Sport England, national governing bodies, local authorities, and other stakeholders, including the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the UK Sports Council.

WORK AND PENSIONS

New Deal

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect the new deal has had on long-term unemployment in Doncaster, North.

Nick Brown: Since 1997 in Doncaster, North, the number of long-term unemployed people has fallen by 85 per cent., and the number of long-term unemployed young people has been cut by 83 per cent.
	Our welfare to work initiatives have helped in this success. The new deal has helped over 900 young people into work in Doncaster, North. And the Employment Zone and Action Team for Jobs which operate in my hon Friend's constituency have between them helped over 1,000 of the most disadvantaged jobless people in Doncaster into work.
	I will be visiting the Doncaster Employment Zone on 7 March to see its work for myself.

Housing Benefit

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to help pensioners to get the housing benefit to which they are entitled.

Malcolm Wicks: This April will see the introduction of the Pension Service, bringing with it a more streamlined and seamless benefit claims process for all pensioners, including those claiming housing benefit. And from April 2003, we will no longer ask them to make a repeat claim for housing benefit every year.
	Changes to housing benefit to support the introduction of the Pension Credit in April 2003 will mean 1.9 million pensioner households will get more help, or help for the first time, through housing benefit.

Pensions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the pensions regulatory regime.

Ian McCartney: Last year I asked Alan Pickering to review the pensions regulatory framework. He will report in the summer of 2002.
	At the same time we will have the report being prepared by Ron Sandler. Thereafter, we shall publish proposals on which we will consult, which will build on the reforms we have already made to reduce the regulatory burden and complexity, to ensure that both Government and employers can support saving for pensions and to ensure we have in place the right measures to build better pension provision.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reduce the level of advice and information on pensioner benefits available at social security offices.

Ian McCartney: None.

Jobcentre Plus

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to enable the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service to work more closely together.

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the introduction of Jobcentre Plus.

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of customer reaction to Jobcentre Plus.

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the quality of service offered at jobcentres.

Nick Brown: At the end of this month, the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency that deal with people of working age are being brought together to form an entirely new organisation, Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus will provide, for the first time, a fully integrated and work-focused employment and benefit service. The new service will gradually be rolled out to the whole country over the next few years.
	56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices have already opened. These have received an overwhelmingly positive response from both individual customers and employers.

Services (Jobseekers)

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the introduction of touch-screen services for jobseekers.

Nick Brown: We have just completed the installation of over 9,000 Jobpoints across our entire network of Jobcentres. Early evaluation has shown that Jobpoints are encouraging jobseekers to look at a larger range of jobs across wider geographical areas and apply for more jobs.
	Jobpoints are increasing jobseekers' prospects of moving into work and helping them to do so more quickly.

Hospital Downrating

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on deductions from pensions of pensioners admitted as in-patients to hospitals.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 778W, in which I said that as previously promised we have considered carefully the impact of the current rules which reduce certain benefits paid to pensioners and people of working age after six weeks of hospitalisation. The downrating of benefits preserves the principle that the state should not make double provision. It also recognises that a substantial number of people leave hospital before six weeks.
	However, we also recognise that people have on-going financial commitments while in hospital, and although we consider the six week rule strikes a fair balance between what the state should provide financially and the provision individuals should make for themselves, we have nonetheless decided to extend the period before benefits are downrated by a further seven weeks to the 13th week stage. This will mean that people previously affected by the six week rule will be able to keep their benefits untouched if their period of stay in hospital is under 13 weeks.
	We will introduce this change to coincide with the introduction of Pension Credit.

Hospital Downrating

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is towards the incomes of pensioners while they are in long-term hospital care.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 778W, in which I said that as previously promised we have considered carefully the impact of the current rules which reduce certain benefits paid to pensioners and people of working age after six weeks of hospitalisation. The downrating of benefits preserves the principle that the state should not make double provision. It also recognises that a substantial number of people leave hospital before six weeks.
	However, we also recognise that people have ongoing financial commitments while in hospital, and although we consider the six week rule strikes a fair balance between what the state should provide financially and the provision individuals should make for themselves, we have nonetheless decided to extend the period before benefits are downrated by a further seven weeks to the 13th week stage. This will mean that people previously affected by the six week rule will be able to keep their benefits untouched if their period of stay in hospital is under 13 weeks. We will introduce this change to coincide with the introduction of Pension Credit.
	We have also taken steps to substantially increase the income of all pensioners. For example, we have increased the basic pension above inflation, we have increased the winter fuel payments, we introduced free TV licences and we have increased the amount of the minimum income guarantee and brought more pensioners within its scope by raising the capital limits. When Pension Credit is introduced in 2003, 5.5 million pensioners will be better off and for the first time pensioners will be rewarded, not penalised, for saving. At the same time further increases are proposed—above inflation—to the pensioners' tax allowance. When the State Second Pension is introduced in April 2002 18 million people, including carers, long-term disabled and low to moderate earners, will benefit. This is a substantial package of measures. These are real increases which make all pensioners better off.

Hospital Downrating

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much will be raised in each full year from 2003 by the revised hospital downrating rules announced on 25 February; what proportion will be attributed severally to (a) retirement pensions and (b) other benefits; and how many (i) pensioners and (ii) recipients of other benefits he estimates will still be affected.

Ian McCartney: There will be no money raised by the revised hospital downrating rules, to be brought in from October 2003. It will be delivered at a cost to Government of approximately £40 million.
	We estimate that up to 5,000 claimants of retirement pension are affected by the 13 to 52 week hospital downrating rule at any point in time. 4,000 claimants of other benefits are also affected.
	Notes:
	1. All figures are 2001–02 price terms.
	2. Some pensioners will have both retirement pension and pension credit. Therefore there is a small amount of overlap in the number of claimants of retirement pension that will still be downrated, and the number of people claiming other benefits that are down-rated. This overlap will not be more than 2,000 people at any point in time.
	3. The figures are for all income related benefits and retirement pension.

Pensions and Benefits

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he next expects to meet his Belgian counterpart to discuss pensions and benefits due to UK citizens.

Malcolm Wicks: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend have any immediate plans for a meeting.

Benefit Fraud

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has set local authorities for benefit fraud prosecutions for 2001–02.

Malcolm Wicks: We have not set a target for the number of local authority prosecutions for 2001–02. Our policy is to ensure local authorities improve their performance in combating fraud across the board, from the outset of a claim and throughout its life.
	Our new incentive scheme is designed to give clear rewards to local authorities who punish fraudsters with the full range of available penalties, including prosecutions.

Employment Assistance (Disabled People)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department is giving to help those with disabilities to get back into work.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help disabled people back into work.

Nick Brown: We have introduced a range of measures to help people with disabilities secure work where they are ready and able to do so.
	Our new deal for disabled people pilots helped over 8,200 disabled people into work. Building on that success we have now introduced a national network of job brokers.
	We are making work possible for people with disabilities by removing benefit barriers. From April we are introducing new, fairer and more flexible work rules for people receiving incapacity benefit. We are making work pay through the disabled person's tax credit and the national minimum wage.
	Jobcentre Plus offers disabled people making new or repeat claims to benefit work-focused meetings with a personal adviser so as to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them.

Employment Assistance

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people affected by large-scale redundancies to find work.

Nick Brown: Through the Rapid Response Service, we are strengthening and expanding the help we can offer people affected by large scale redundancy. We have been developing the service in pilot areas since September 2000, and across all regions since April 2001. All the elements of the service will be in place next month, supported by a further investment of £6 million over two years.
	The aim of the service is to support individuals, employers and communities affected by significant redundancies and help people make the transition into sustainable new jobs. The service will work closely with key partners in the local area, such as the Regional Development Agencies, the Learning and Skills Council and trade unions, to co-ordinate an immediate response to a significant redundancy.

Private Pensions

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has to increase private pension provision.

Ian McCartney: As I said last November and again in January, we are committed to encouraging private saving to meet the long-term challenges of an aging population. And we remain committed. That is why we are introducing Pension Credit—making sure it pays to save; we have introduced stakeholder pensions—a secure and value for money vehicle to make private provision; we have launched a simplification review—to reduce the layers of regulation that increase costs; we will replace the Minimum Funding Requirement; and we are implementing the recommendations of the Myners Review; and that is why our pensions education campaign is driving home the message that saving now is the best way to guarantee security tomorrow.

Occupational Pensions

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on changes in the level of provision of occupational pension schemes, with special reference to the guarantee of a pension based on final earnings.

Ian McCartney: There has been a long-term decline since the 1960s in both the coverage and number of occupational schemes. Provision peaked in the 1960s. There is also a trend away from final salary schemes towards defined contribution arrangements, although by far the majority of scheme members remain in salary-related schemes. We welcome the fact that many employers voluntarily continue to provide pensions for their staff, whether it is through defined benefit provision or defined contribution provision.
	The reasons for the long-term changes to occupational pension provision are complex. People are living longer. There has been a relative decline in the sectors that traditionally offer occupational pensions and an increase in self-employment. Lower expected stock market returns, ending of contribution holidays, and an increase in complexity of regulations imposed since the late 1980s have all contributed.
	But the Government are acting. We are seeking better regulation through the simplification review; better products through the introduction of stakeholder pensions (with 637,000 individual sales within their first eight months) and the Sandler Review of personal investment products; and to reward saving through the Pension Credit.

Employment Assistance (Deprived Areas)

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help he plans to give to long-term unemployed people in deprived areas.

Nick Brown: Our welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. The new deals have already helped well over 600,000 people into jobs.
	We introduced Employment Zones specifically to help long-term unemployed people in deprived areas get and keep work. The 15 Employment Zones have already helped over 17,200 people move into work. We are in the process of extending the existing zones' contracts until March 2004, and are currently fully evaluating zone performance before deciding how to take the initiative further. The Doncaster Employment Zone, which is operating in part of the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency, has already helped over 590 people into work.
	Action Teams for Jobs are also helping to tackle joblessness in the most employment deprived areas in the country. In their first year of operation they had helped nearly 16,500 people into work. Up to October 2001, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield were covered by a single South Yorkshire Action Team, which helped 585 people move into work. In October 2001, following the extension of the Action Teams initiative, the South Yorkshire Team was split into two, with one Team covering Barnsley and Rotherham. Between October 2001 and January 2002, the Barnsley and Rotherham Action Team helped 63 people into jobs.

Employment Assistance (Deprived Areas)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people back into work in areas of acute social deprivation.

Nick Brown: Our welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. However, we recognise that there are a small number of areas with acute labour market disadvantages.
	In October 2000, we launched Action Teams for Jobs to help jobless people in the most employment deprived areas in the country into work. Action Teams give help tailored to the needs of the individual clients, developing innovative ways to help people overcome the barriers they face when looking for work. By the end of their first year of operation, Action Teams had helped nearly 16,500 people into jobs. In January we increased the number of Action Teams from 53 to 63, and are investing £122 million to fund the teams up to March 2004.
	In spring 2000, we introduced 15 Employment Zones in areas of persistently high long-term unemployment. The zones have already helped over 17,200 people move into work. We are in the process of extending the existing contracts until March 2004. We are currently fully evaluating the performance of the zones before deciding how to take the initiative further.

Annuities

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the annuity rule for pensioners.

Ian McCartney: The Government issued a consultation document, "Modernising Annuities", on 5 February to stimulate discussion on annuity issues. The consultation will run until 5 April, and we will then consider the responses before deciding how to proceed.
	As the Government have repeatedly made clear, it is important that pension funds built up with the support of tax relief are used for their intended purpose—that is, to provide pensioners with a secure income in retirement. Our intention is to ensure that people make well-informed and appropriate decisions when purchasing annuities, and that the annuity market is flexible and offers good value choices within that market.

Textile Workers (Sunderland)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to assist with retraining redundant textile workers in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Wherever redundancies occur, and in whatever sector, the Employment Service together with other key regional partners, will set up a task force to identify and provide the support needed by those affected. This can include help through the Rapid Response Service where appropriate.
	The aim of the Rapid Response Service is to provide support for those affected by redundancy and help people make the transition into sustainable new jobs. The nature of the help provided by the service will be tailored to the needs of the individuals, the employer, and the local labour market concerned. This could include offering information and advice to those affected, facilitating retraining where necessary, or developing customised retraining programmes.
	We have been developing the Rapid Response Service in pilot areas since September 2000, and across all regions, including the north-east, since April 2001. All the elements of the Service will be in place next month, supported by a further investment of £6 million over two years.

Pensions (Low-paid Workers)

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department gives to low-paid workers to build up pension entitlement.

Ian McCartney: From 6 April, some 18 million employees will start to build up better state pensions when State Second Pension reforms SERPS. In particular people earning £10,800 or less will get at least twice as much as they would have done under SERPS, and anybody earning up to £24,600 a year will also benefit, whether or not they are contributing to a private pension. In addition, State Second Pension will allow some two million carers and a similar number of people with long term disabilities to build up an additional (2nd tier) state pension for the first time.
	The minimum income guarantee already boosts the retirement income of nearly two million pensioners. We also estimate that around half of all pensioner households will be eligible for the Pension Credit when it is introduced in October 2003—on average pensioners will be better off by £400 a year with some getting up to £1,000.

Income-related Benefits

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the take-up of income-related benefits by pensioners.

Ian McCartney: This Government want all pensioners to have a decent income in retirement and is committed to ensuring that those poorer pensioners who are eligible for the receipt of Minimum Income guarantee (MIG) can achieve their legal entitlement.
	As a result of the national MIG take-up campaign launched in May 2000 there have been an additional 243,793 claims of which 127,371 have been successful providing these pensioners with an extra £20 a week on average. In total, over 1.7 million pensioners are now receiving the MIG, 3500 of whom live in the New Forest, East constituency.
	We have produced a new leaflet that explains who is entitled to MIG and how to claim, launched the new 10-page claim form, and set up the MIG Tele-Centre. All of these measures make it easier for pensioners to understand their entitlement and make a claim.
	We are following this up, and from October 2001 when a customer applies for their retirement pension those who are not already receiving MIG are asked a series of questions to identify if they may be entitled and encouraged to claim if they wish to do so.
	We are looking at a number of options to extend this service so that a claim to MIG will be invited automatically following certain key life events, for example when a pensioner reaches age 75 or 80 or when another benefit such as attendance allowance is awarded.
	We are also working in partnership with organisations for older people to improve access to benefits and take up of MIG.

Pension Service

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the new pension service to come into operation.

Ian McCartney: The pension service will be launched on 1 April 2002 and will offer an improved service for pensioners. It will be customer-focused and will give pensioners a modern, personalised, efficient service designed to meet their needs. It will also provide information for future pensioners to help them make decisions about their future pension arrangements.
	It will comprise an improved local service nationwide which will operate in the community to provide face to face contact for pensioners.
	The local service will also provide a visiting service and will support customers by working in partnership with voluntary organisations, local authorities and other Government Departments to provide a more joined up service.
	This improved service will be rolled out over the next two years. In the interim, our customers will continue to deal with their existing social security offices.
	The local service for pensioners in each Government Office Region will be located throughout that region. Support work for the local service in the north-east will be shared between the Stockton and Seaham pension centres.

Stakeholder Pensions

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of stakeholder pensions have been purchased by his Department's target group.

Ian McCartney: The information is not yet available, however, figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) state that around 640,000 stakeholder pensions had been sold up the end of December 2001 representing over £1 billion of new pension premiums. Over 310,000 employers had designated a stakeholder scheme for their workforce by that date; a compliance rate of about 80 per cent. achieved within three months of the requirement coming into force.
	Stakeholder pensions have also helped to stimulate the wider pensions market. In 2001, new regular premium pensions business rose by 52.5 per cent. over the preceding year to a total of £2.4 billion. Over the same period, single premium pension business rose by 2.7 per cent. to just over £50 billion.
	The aim of our long-term pension reforms is to give everyone access to a good value pension arrangement, so that they have the chance of a decent income in retirement. Stakeholder pensions are part of those reforms. Targets for a particular type of pension are not appropriate. The suitability of a stakeholder pension for any individual is a matter for them to decide in the light of their particular circumstances.

Equal Opportunities

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent studies he has undertaken to identify the obstacles facing women returning to work.

Nick Brown: A number of studies are carried out on behalf of the Department looking at families with children and specifically lone parent families. These studies have examined the obstacles faced by women and informed the development of initiatives like the new deals, which have helped nearly a quarter of a million women move into work.
	The current Employment Bill will introduce further measures that will help mothers to balance their work and family commitments. This is good for parents, children and business.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 8 and 16 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M. Willingham.

Ian McCartney: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 1 March.

Retirement Age

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered plans to change the state retirement age from 65 years.

Ian McCartney: No.

Capita

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list all contracts awarded by his Department to Capita since 1997, stating (a) start and finish date of contract, (b) value of contract, (c) description of work to be carried out, (d) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery of contract, (e) penalty charges for failure to deliver and (f) if penalty charges have been incurred; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Until 2000 most records for use of consultants were kept by individual projects and programmes, rather than centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available information is as follows.
	Accommodation and Office Services (AOS)
	(a) Start and finish dates:
	
		
			 AOS contract Start date End date 
		
		
			 North-west coast and Greater Manchester 1 April 1999 Extended to 31 March 2004 
			 Tyne Tees and Yorkshire 1 April 1999 Extended to 31 March 2004 
			 West Midlands and Mercia 1 April 1999 Extended to 31 March 2004 
		
	
	(b) Estimated total value for the three contracts to 31 March 2004 is £112.9 million.
	(c) Services provided under each of these contracts are:
	Post opening
	Typing
	Secretarial
	Shuttle bus management
	Post despatch
	Reprographics
	Fleet management
	Messengerial
	Switchboard operation
	Stationery ordering.
	(d) The contractor is monitored against the standards of delivery stipulated in the contract. The contractor provides monthly reports detailing levels of service achieved. If the service level is deficient, service credits can be applied.
	(e) and (f) There are no penalty clauses within the contract.
	Winter Fuels Payments (New Rules)
	(a) The initial contract was for one year from 5 May 2000 to 4 May 2001, with an option to run for up to five years—i.e. to 4 May 2005. To date there have been two one-year extensions—the current expiry date is 4 May 2003.
	(b) Estimated value for the three years to 4 May 2003 is £16.1 million.
	(c) Bulk issue of claim forms for winter fuels payments to potential customers, identified by the Department (as living within Great Britain); and provision of a helpline service to deal with inquiries and issue of forms to customers with potential entitlement from previous winters.
	(d) and (e) Performance targets for service delivery were included in the contract, and liquidated damages set for failure to reach these targets. The detail of the targets set and the level of liquidated damages to be imposed for failure to deliver these are commercially confidential between the Department and Capita.
	(f) To date, no liquidated damages have been imposed. Recruitment Services
	(a) 13 July 2001 to 31 December 2002.
	(b) Some £600,000 in total.
	(c) To provide the Department's Human Resource Services with professional, independent advice and recruitment services.
	(d) and (e) A range of quality criteria and control mechanisms are included in the contract, with post exercise reviews of administration, value for money and charging regimes.
	(f) Not applicable.
	Working Age Specification Framework
	(a) Initially let from 15 October 2001 to 7 December 2001, then extended to 31 March 2002.
	(b) £139,443.
	(c) Support to provide a framework to ensure that Working Age Group is focused directly on activities that best contribute to the targets for which it is responsible.
	(d) and (e) Payment for defined products, to time and standard. Unacceptable deliverables/products can result in re-work to correct at no additional charge to the Department, partial acceptance and pro-rata payment or, finally, termination of the contract.
	(f) None.
	Consultancy support to Pension Credit Project Central Design Authority
	(a) Let from 4 February 2002 to 12 April 2002.
	(b) Maximum value £198,000.
	(c) Consultancy support to assist in key design tasks.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	User Tester to the Pensions Forecasting Project
	(a) 19 November 2001 to 25 February 2002.
	(b) £24,850.
	(c) Capita analysed new business processes in order to establish their impact and any testing requirements.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	Private Sector Led New Deal—Solihull
	(a) 1 August 1998 to 15 November 2002.
	(b) £500,000.
	(c) Provide consultancy advice and support to the Employment Service locally.
	(d) The contract sets out the services to be delivered and the key performance indicators that have to be met. The contract manager is responsible for assuring that the services captured within the contract are being delivered. The contract sets out the remedies for non-delivery of the services specified within the contract. Performance management is undertaken by the contract manager who is responsible for working in partnership with the contractor to improve the levels of performance. Where appropriate the delivery of performance is directly linked to outputs/outcomes so in such circumstances payment is only triggered when the agreed levels of performance have been met.
	(e) and (f) The contract does not include provision for penalty charges and therefore none have been incurred.
	Employment Services Estates Corporate Supply
	(a) 6 May 1998 to 5 May 2002.
	(b) £3 million.
	(c) Advised on Jobcentre Plus pathfinder environment issues, acting as managing consultant for the Jobcentre Plus refurbishment programme in the Employment Services estate.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	New Deal Next Phase (progress2work)—Birmingham North
	New Deal Next Phase (progress2work)—Birmingham South
	(a) Both run from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2004.
	(b) £238,000 each.
	(c) Establishing pathfinders for the first tranche of progress2work, targeting unemployed clients disadvantaged through drug misuse.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	Disability Marketing in the North-West
	(a) 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2003.
	(b) £168,000.
	(c) Marketing support for the North West Disability Services.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	Access to Work
	(a) 1 April 2001 to 1 October 2001.
	(b) £184,000.
	(c) Review of the Access to Work processes.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) Procurement Support
	(a) 9 October 2000 to 22 December 2000.
	(b) £127,000.
	(c) Technical support during the NDDP procurement exercise.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.
	(d) (e) and (f) As above.

Post Office

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made since January on negotiations between the Post Office and its partners on the Universal bank.

Alistair Darling: Good progress continues to be made. I shall keep the House informed.

Accountancy Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by his Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Ian McCartney: The information requested on the number of contracts let is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information requested on value of contracts is provided in the table as follows:
	
		Remuneration -- £ million
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Arthur Andersen 0 0 0 0 
			 Deloitte & Touche 2.4 2.4 2.8 10.7 
			 Ernst & Young 1.9 2.7 3.8 0.98 
			 KPMG 0.1 1.0 0.42 0.52 
			 PWC 1.7 1.2 0.32 0.47 
		
	
	Figures relate to contracts awarded by the ex Department of Social Security up to the last full financial year for which information is available.
	Arthur Andersen: the figures in the table relate to Andersen Worldwide, Arthur Andersen (AA) and not to Andersen Consulting which split from the Andersen Worldwide organisation in 1999.
	Remuneration with Deloitte & Touche rose sharply between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 because, following competition, they were selected as a strategic partner for the Child Support Agency to assist in implementing Child Support Reforms. The increased remuneration reflects the increased work done under this partnership since late 1999, for example business process and organisational design and planning and IS/IT assurance.
	Ernst & Young/CGEY. The consulting arm of Ernst & Young was purchased by Cap Gemini in 2000 to form Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGEY).
	PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) was formed on 1 July 1998 as the result of a merger of the Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand organisations.

Jobcentres

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland are equipped with Jobpoint terminals.

Nick Brown: holding answer 25 February 2002
	The rollout of Jobpoints across the network of Jobcentres will be completed by the end of February. Currently some 99 per cent. of Jobcentres in Great Britain, and in Scotland, are equipped with Jobpoint terminals. Jobcentres in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Special Advisers

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; and if he will list the total cost, including (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowance, for each occasion.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 27 February 2002
	Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2001, special advisers in my Department did not travel abroad on any occasion. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2000 is already in the public domain. All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the ministerial code, and the civil service management code.

Age Discrimination

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set for reducing discrimination against older people.

Ian McCartney: We are vigorously promoting the benefits of recruiting, training and retaining older workers as part of our Age Positive campaign and to help employers prepare for the introduction of employment legislation by 2006.
	We have set ourselves a target of increasing the employment rate of people aged 50 and over. The new deal 50 plus has already helped 127 people move into work in the hon. Member's constituency. Our new Jobcentre Plus service will help all those people on benefits who want to find work, regardless of age. [One of the Jobcentre Plus pathfinders is near to my hon. Friend's constituency, in Livingston]. We are building on the success of the measures we have already taken which have helped increase the employment rate for older people in each of the past four years.

Action Teams for Jobs

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the effectiveness of Action Teams for Jobs.

Nick Brown: Action Teams for Jobs are helping to tackle joblessness in the most employment deprived areas in the country. Action Teams are performing well. In their first year of operation, they helped nearly 16,500 people into work—over 40 per cent. of participants.
	As part of the extension of the Action Teams initiative last October, a new team was created in south Manchester, covering my hon. Friend's constituency. By mid- February, the team had already engaged with 167 clients.

DEFENCE

Nancekuke

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the (a) morbidity and (b) mortality records for workers at CDE Nancekuke in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement on the results.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has not conducted any investigation of the mortality of ex- members of staff at CDE Nancekuke since the 1970 report from the Registrar General that concluded that there were no excess deaths or any differences in the cause of death compared to the national population.
	However, the MOD has looked again at the data compiled at about the same time on the morbidity of Nancekuke workers. I have concluded that although the quality of the available information is not sufficient to produce a definitive scientific paper, there was nothing to suggest an excess morbidity in ex-Nancekuke staff.

Military Bases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of US bases in the UK since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Security at Ministry of Defence establishments is kept under constant review. It is MOD policy not to disclose details of security measures.

Military Bases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent changes there have been to policy regarding MDP reserves being used to secure and protect military bases; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: There are no Ministry of Defence police reserves, although there is an MDP Operational Support Unit (OSU) of 50 officers based at MDP Headquarters in Wethersfield in Essex. OSU officers continue, as before, to be used to enable MDP to meet exceptional demands to resources and to provide specialist skills as and where required.

BAE Systems Broach Penetrating Warhead

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected cost is of flight trials of the AGM 154c carrying the BAE Systems Broach penetrating warhead; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The AGM 154c (Joint Stand-Off Weapon) is a United States Navy Programme. As such, the Ministry of Defence has no visibility of the costs involved.

Atlantic Patrol Task (North)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the length of the deployment of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) to the West Indies was set at nine months.

Adam Ingram: The length of the deployment of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) is not stipulated as nine months. The Atlantic Patrol Task came into effect on 1 November 1998 to allow greater flexibility on how peacetime deployments to the Caribbean, South Atlantic and West Africa were managed. Since November 1998, the annual average cover by the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) in the Caribbean region has been nine and a half months.

Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his study into the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft capability; when the outcome will be made public; and what assessment he has made of existing helicopter designs.

Lewis Moonie: The Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft project is currently nearing completion of its concept phase. During this phase we have identified a number of options that have the potential to meet the capability requirements when the Maritime Lynx goes out of service. A number of existing helicopter designs are potentially able to meet these requirements, including the Future Lynx proposal from Westlands Helicopter Ltd., and these will be considered further in the assessment phase. I expect to be able to make a further announcement about the next stage for this project later this year.

Apache Helicopter

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of the Apache helicopter in support of amphibious operations and the Royal Marines.

Adam Ingram: Trials to determine the operating limits, and any modifications required, for the UK's WAH 64 Attack Helicopter to operate in a maritime environment are due to commence in early 2004. Decisions on the extent of the utility of the helicopter in support of amphibious operations and the Royal Marines will be informed by the outcome of the trials.

Berlin Plus Agreements

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made in setting modalities to enable EU access to NATO capabilities within the framework of Berlin plus agreements.

Geoff Hoon: Work between the EU and NATO continues. We have made good progress towards agreement on EU access to NATO assets and capabilities, although arrangements are not yet finalised.

International Security Assistance Force

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Government have had with (a) the interim Afghan Administration and (b) other nations contributing to the International Security Assistance Force, concerning the possible deployment of ISAF to cities other than Kabul.

Geoff Hoon: We hold regular discussions with the Interim Administration and other contributing nations about the role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), including proposals that ISAF might be deployed to cities other than Kabul. We continue to have questions about the practicality of such a deployment in current circumstances.

Exercise Tradewinds 01

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy ships and nations were to have been involved in exercise Tradewinds 01; and what the purpose of the exercise was to be.

Adam Ingram: The Atlantic Patrol Task (North) ship, HMS Sheffield, participated in the US sponsored exercise Tradewinds 01 between 26 April and 3 May 2001. In addition to UK and US forces involvement, the Regional Security Systems States (Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Dominica) participated in the exercise along with Trinidad and Tobago. The main purpose of the exercise was to establish a framework for the Caribbean ground and maritime forces to conduct joint and coalition training. Within this framework, the aim was to promote regional interoperability, enhance participants' ability to conduct small to medium scale operations in a multinational environment and to improve their ability to respond to disaster relief, search and rescue and law enforcement operations.

European Security and Defence Policy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the concept of (a) a European Security and Defence Identity and (b) a European Security and Defence Policy.

Geoff Hoon: The European Security and Defence Identity was founded within NATO to enable European Allies to make a more coherent and effective contribution to the missions and activities of the Alliance. The European Security and Defence Policy of the European Union reinforces this work and seeks to improve European military capabilities.

DSACEUR

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Deputy SACEUR will play within the EU Military Committee.

Geoff Hoon: The EU Military Committee (EUMC) is formally composed of the EU Chiefs of Defence, who are represented on a permanent basis by Brussels-based Military Representatives. DSACEUR may be invited to attend EUMC meetings in view of his responsibilities for the European Pillar of NATO and his potential role in EU-led operations.

Afghanistan

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons aerial bombing raids are continuing in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: The coalition remains committed to bring Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders to account and preventing al-Qaeda from posing a terrorist threat in the future. Coalition aircraft are therefore continuing to support action by Afghan forces on the ground against the terrorists and their Taliban supporters.

Afghanistan

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to formulate an accurate assessment of the numbers of casualties in Afghanistan since 11 September 2001.

Geoff Hoon: I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 337W.

Research and Development

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on how much was spent on research and development last year.

Lewis Moonie: Ministry of Defence (MOD) spending on research and development is reported annually in Defence Statistics, published by the Defence Analytical Services Agency. The latest year for which figures are available is 1999–2000 when the MOD spent £2,345 million, inclusive of VAT.

QinetiQ

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential losses of expertise due to the division of DERA into QinetiQ and Dstl.

Lewis Moonie: The process of splitting DERA, into Dstl and QinetiQ, was based on the key objective to identify the functional requirements and capabilities needed by each organisation to achieve their future business goals. DERA and the Ministry of Defence experts worked closely together in late 2000 to identify which divisions, teams and individuals were required by which organisation, and the final division aimed to provide each organisation with skills that were both balanced and adequate to achieve sustainability.
	The division into future-Dstl and future-QinetiQ operated on a "shadow" basis from January 2001, and QinetiQ plc and Dstl were formally created in July last year. Throughout, both organisations have continued to successfully meet the needs of their customers. We are confident that the PPP process, which is still ongoing, will strengthen links between military and civil technology and improve the transfer of bright ideas from the private sector and academia. This will strongly benefit the defence science base.
	Both organisations are vibrant and attractive places to work, and continue to attract and retain high calibre staff in the face of growing competition from the civil sector.

STAR 21

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what input his Department is making to the deliberations of the European Union's Advisory Group on Aerospace (STAR 21); and when the Group is expected to make its recommendations.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 28 February 2002
	STAR 21 is an industry group set up under the auspices of the European Commission, with no formal involvement from the Governments of EU member states. Nevertheless, we are being kept abreast of the group's deliberations, and would anticipate being consulted on the group's findings and proposals. I understand that the group is hoping to report in the summer.

Armed Forces (Northern Ireland)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the minimum garrison strength of the armed forces required to remain in Northern Ireland in the event of a total cessation of terrorism and the threat of terrorism within the United Kingdom from Irish Republican and Loyalist terrorist organisations.

Adam Ingram: The detailed nature of the long-term garrison in Northern Ireland will require careful study taking into account practical factors which apply throughout the United Kingdom, such as training needs, facilities and availability of accommodation. Ultimately we would expect the number of regular service personnel permanently based in Northern Ireland to be about 8,000, a comparable number to those stationed in similar sized areas in Great Britain.

Saville Inquiry

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive a report on the circumstances leading to the loss of confidential information regarding the identity of the soldiers who are due to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry; what steps have been taken to (a) recover the lost documents and (b) offer protection to the soldiers and their families; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Inquiries by the police have revealed that a number of documents relating to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry were left outside barristers' chambers in London. There is no indication that any of these documents contained information regarding the identity of the soldiers, nor anything else that would affect the safety of them or their families.
	The police inquiries continue and I am being kept apprised of their progress.

Tyne Class OPVs

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what armament will be carried by the Tyne Class OPVs.

Adam Ingram: HMS Tyne will be the first of the three new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels to be built. Each vessel will be fitted with one 20 mm BMARC KAA Gun and two 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Guns. In addition, the crew will have access to small arms, including SA 80 Rifles and 9 mm pistols.

Warships

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Indian Government concerning expressions of interest to purchase HMS Invincible.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has received no representations from the Government of India concerning the availability of HMS Invincible for purchase.

Warships

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the refit of HMS Vanguard will take; and what is the estimated cost.

Adam Ingram: The refit of HMS Vanguard is scheduled to take around two and a half years to complete including trials and training. The total cost of the refit is estimated to be approximately £217 million including materials, but excluding the costs for any additional essential work identified during the course of the refit.

Warships

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what standby notice HMS Sheffield will be available between 2003 and 2004.

Adam Ingram: On current plans, HMS Sheffield will be held at Extended Readiness, commensurate with force levels endorsed within the Strategic Defence Review, from November 2002 until September 2004. Extended Readiness provides the flexibility to vary the notion of availability.

Type 42 Destroyers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each of the remaining Type 42 destroyers will be paid off.

Adam Ingram: On current plans, the operational decommissioning dates for the remaining Type 42 destroyers in the Royal Navy are as follows:
	
		
			  Type 42 destroyer Planned operational decommissioning date 
		
		
			 HMS Cardiff 2008 
			 HMS Newcastle 2007 
			 HMS Glasgow 2009 
			 HMS Exeter 2010 
			 HMS Southampton 2011 
			 HMS Nottingham 2012 
			 HMS Liverpool 2010 
			 HMS Manchester 2012 
			 HMS Gloucester 2013 
			 HMS Edinburgh 2013 
			 HMS York 2014

Frigates

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all type 22 and type 23 frigates will be refitted with the 114 mm Mark VIII Mod I gun.

Adam Ingram: It is planned to install the 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark VIII MOD 1 gun on type 22 batch 3 frigates and on all type 23 frigates.

Cape Wrath Range

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his policy is on consent to applications received from (a) UK forces and (b) overseas forces for the use of depleted uranium-based ammunition at Cape Wrath range;
	(2)  if depleted uranium-based ammunition has been authorised for use at the Cape Wrath range by (a) UK forces and (b) overseas forces; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The use of depleted uranium ammunition is not and never has been authorised at Cape Wrath range. We have no intention of changing this policy.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Collaboration Agreements

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the (a) number and (b) type of collaboration agreements between universities and colleges and industry; and if she will make a statement on the benefit of these agreements.

Margaret Hodge: The most recent description of collaboration between higher education institutions and business is the Higher Education—Business Interaction Survey report by the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, published in December 2001, copies of which have been placed in the Library. This survey was commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on behalf of stakeholders including the Department for Education and Skills. The report can also be found on the internet at www.hefce.ac.uk/Pubs/hefce/ 2001/01–68.htm. Interactions and collaboration between higher education institutions and businesses can bring a number of benefits, for companies, for institutions, for employees and for students.

Medical Schools

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to address potential over-crowding in medical schools.

Margaret Hodge: Following a review of the medical workforce, published in December 1997, and the commitments made in the NHS Plan in July 2000, the number of places available to study medicine in England will increase to almost 6,000 in 2005–06. Of the additional places, over 40 per cent. will be at new medical schools. The extra places were approved by an implementation group chaired jointly by the Chief Executive of Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Chief Medical Officer for England following bids for additional places by medical schools. The General Medical Council also considered the bids for quality and delivery of teaching provision. The increases will be implemented, in stages, over seven years in line with the capacity of medical schools to accommodate the additional students.

Out of School Clubs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many out of school clubs which received new opportunities funding since such funding was available (a) have subsequently closed and (b) are operational.

Margaret Hodge: Information is not available in the form requested.
	The New Opportunities Fund Out Of Schools Hours Programme has created over 146,500 new out of school hours child care places in England since April 1999. Most of these projects are still receiving funding from the Fund but of those projects that have submitted their end of grant reports, over 90 per cent. of places are still in operation.
	Between 1999 and 2004 £225.5 million is being made available to help start up new out of school hours child care in England.

Fast Track Scheme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of the Fast Track Scheme, including the costs of advertising.

Stephen Timms: The Government have invested the following funds in creating the Fast Track Teaching Programme, a new career route for some of the highest calibre future teachers:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 4,603,058 
			 2001–02 (2)8,530,000 
		
	
	(2) Estimated end-year forecast
	This represents the total investment to date in fast track, including: national advertising; targeted marketing; application materials; assessment and selection; enhanced initial teacher training; bursaries; ICT; additional professional development events; marketing to schools; and the investment needed to build a highly personalised system of job-broking, career management and professional development.

Welcome Back Bonus Scheme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of the welcome back bonus scheme; and how much of that cost has been paid to returning teachers.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available in the form requested. Local education authorities pay welcome back bonuses to teachers and then claim reimbursement of this expenditure from my Department. The first reimbursements will be made this month. We do not yet have final claimant numbers. £117,280 was allocated in the current financial year to publicise the bonus and establish the administrative arrangements for the scheme.

Learning and Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local learning and skills councils have appointed specialist officers in basic skills.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 February 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's grant letter to the LSC for 2002–03 highlighted the importance of tackling the legacy of poor basic skills, and asked the LSC to implement its adult literacy and numeracy strategy, to meet the target of raising the literacy and numeracy skills of 750,000 young people and adults by 2004 and set out the key priorities for the LSC in 2002–03 including taking responsibility for tackling the woeful legacy of poor basic skills.
	The LSC has confirmed that there is at least one person in each local LSC with specific responsibility for basic skills.

Knowledge Transfer

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the value and effectiveness of knowledge transfer initiatives sponsored by her Department.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, supports knowledge transfer through projects in higher education funded under the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which incorporates the earlier Higher Education Reach- Out to Business and the Community Fund. Many of the projects funded under these initiatives introduced new organisational and structural arrangements intended to lead to systematic and sustainable improvements in relationships between higher education institutions and business. As the earliest projects have only been running for just over two years it is still too soon for full evaluation. Early indications suggest that these initiatives are helping to improve the capacity of higher education institutions to carry out knowledge transfer.

Student Costs

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the number of potential students, broken down by social class, who were deterred from applying for a university place in 2001 because of the financial cost they might incur.

Margaret Hodge: The Youth Cohort Study shows that around nine in 10 young people who achieve two or more A-levels by 18 progress to Higher Education by the time they are 21. The differences in participation rates between different social classes largely reflect differences in prior attainment. A research study into the factors affecting participation in HE by different social class groups (which focused on those with, or seeking to get, entry-level qualifications) found that finance is one of a number of concerns people had when they were deciding whether or not to attend university. However, among those who had decided against going to university the main reasons were not related to the likely costs involved but because they wanted to start work or because they did not need a higher education qualification for their chosen career.

Student Guidance

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what type of guidance on available funding is offered to (a) students applying for university places and (b) current university students; and who offers this guidance.

Margaret Hodge: My Department produces an annual guide to the financial help available to students. Copies of this guide are made available directly to local education authorities (LEAs), higher education institutions (HEIs), and the booklet is also available on the Department's website.
	Separate booklets are also produced for disabled students and those with children.
	As part of our current marketing campaign to increase awareness of higher education among 13 to 19-year-olds we have produced booklets for pupils on student finance.
	LEAs, schools, HEIs, my Department and a range of other advisers also provide advice and guidance to students on financial support.

Student Guidance

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responsibility institutes of higher education have for offering guidance to students on matters relating to (a) funding available to them and (b) managing their personal budgets.

Margaret Hodge: Individual higher education institutions make their own arrangements for providing guidance to students. The Department, together with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals is undertaking a project looking at the range of student services provided by institutions. The objective is to identify effective approaches in helping students especially those who are at risk. The project is due to report in the summer.

Student Guidance

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the arrangements for offering guidance to students applying for higher education courses on funding available to them.

Margaret Hodge: Each year my Department undertakes an independent survey of the information and guidance it produces on the funding available to higher education students. This survey informs the design and production of future financial support information materials. The most recent survey was carried out in November and December 2001.

Financial Literacy

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the student funding review is examining measures to improve financial literacy among higher education students.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are not currently examining measures to improve financial literacy among higher education students.

Pupil Attainment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 11 year olds in maintained schools achieved the standard of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy for that age in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The table shows the number and percentage of pupils in maintained mainstream schools in England who achieved Level 4 or above in the (a) English and (b) mathematics Key Stage 2 tests in each year from 1997 to 2001.
	The table confirms that the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies have succeeded in raising standards in primary schools.
	
		
			  (a) English (b) Mathematics 
		
		
			 1997   
			 Number at Level 4 or above(3) 360,200 353,100 
			 Percentage of eligible pupils 63 62 
			 1998   
			 Number at Level 4 or above(3) 377,800 341,200 
			 Percentage of eligible pupils 65 58 
			 1999   
			 Number at Level 4 or above(3) 424,500 415,600 
			 Percentage of eligible pupils 70 69 
			 2000   
			 Number at Level 4 or above(3) 446,100 427,000 
			 Percentage of eligible pupils 75 72 
			 2001   
			 Number at Level 4 or above(3) 453,900 427,300 
			 Percentage of eligible pupils 75 71 
		
	
	(3) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.

Pupil Attainment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentages her Department has set for pupils to achieve level 4 at Key Stage 2 tests in (a) English and (b) maths; and what target dates her Department has set for these targets to be met;
	(2)  what further targets her Department plans to set in relation to the commitment to increase the percentage of children who achieve level 4 in each of the Key Stage 2 English and maths.

Stephen Timms: We remain committed to achieving our Key Stage 2 targets for 2002, which are for 80 per cent. of pupils to achieve level 4 or above in English and 75 per cent. to do so in maths.
	We recently consulted on higher targets for 2004 of 85 per cent. of pupils achieving level 4 or above in English and maths and 35 per cent. achieving level 5 or above. We are considering responses to the consultation carefully and expect to make an announcement about the national targets shortly.

Pupil Attainment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils have reached level 5 in Key Stage 3 in (a) English, (b) maths, (c) ICT and (d) science in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The table shows the number and percentage of pupils in all schools in England who achieved Level 5 or above in the (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) ICT and (d) science Key Stage 3 assessments in each year from 1997 to 2001.
	The Key Stage 3 National Strategy, just begun, will support schools in raising standards in the early years of secondary education and improving on these figures.
	
		
			   (a) English (b) Mathematics (c) ICT(4) (d) Science 
		
		
			 1997 Number at Level 5 or above(5) 315,600 332,500 232,000 331,800 
			  Percentage of eligible pupils 57 60 50 60 
			   
			 1998 Number of Level 5 or above(5) 358,000 331,600 242,000 310,500 
			  Percentage of eligible pupils 65 59 56 56 
			   
			 1999 Number at Level 5 or above(5) 365,700 358,400 315,700 315,200 
			  Percentage of eligible pupils 64 62 58 55 
			   
			 2000 Number at Level 5 or above(5) 369,800 376,300 341,200 343,800 
			  Percentage of eligible pupils 64 65 62 59 
			   
			 2001 Number at Level 5 or above(5) 382,600 394,600 357,100 390,000 
			  Percentage of eligible pupils 65 66 65 66 
		
	
	Notes:
	(4) The ICT results are based on Teacher Assessments; English, maths and science are based on the test results.
	(5) The numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Sixth Forms

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the proportion of pupils proceeding into higher education from (a) schools with sixth forms and (b) schools without sixth forms in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The available information is given in the table, showing the previous educational institution of students accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). However, it is not possible to identify the type of school that a student attended prior to entering higher education from a further education college. Therefore, the categories of institution shown do not equate directly to (a) schools with sixth forms and (b) schools without sixth forms.
	Not all students who enter higher education do so directly after leaving full-time education at age 18; for example, some spend a period in employment before returning to study, and others take a gap year to broaden their experience. Around a third of young people enter full-time higher education by the age of 20, including those who enter at ages 18, 19 and 20.
	
		Students from England aged 18 accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK by previous educational institution
		
			   Academic year of entry to Higher Education  
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Schools(6)
			 17 year olds(7) in previous year studying in Schools 167,600 167,500 173,600 
			 18 year olds(8) accepted for entry from Schools 83,200 83,200 86,900 
			 Percentage proceeding to HE aged 18 50 50 50 
			 
			 FE Colleges
			 17 year olds(7) in previous year studying in FE colleges 183,700 183,100 184,900 
			 18 year olds(8) accepted for entry from FE colleges 37,700 38,100 40,800 
			 Percentage proceeding to HE aged 18 21 21 22 
		
	
	(6) Including City Technology Colleges.
	(7) Age at 31 August.
	(8) Age at 30 September.

Postcode Premium Payments

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used by the HEFC to determine those areas which qualify for postcode premium payments in connection with widening participation; and what the qualifying post code areas are.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of the Funding Council to reply to your question and to place a copy of his reply in the House of Commons Library.

School Inspections

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are employed by (a) Ofsted and (b) other schools monitoring and inspection organisations.

Stephen Timms: I am advised that Ofsted employs 2,651 staff, including 216 HM Inspectors of Schools. Of these, over 1,900 are engaged in the regulation of child care and many others are involved in inspections of colleges, local education authorities and initial teacher training providers. Ofsted also employs on a temporary basis around 800 additional inspectors who carry out occasional work in specific areas across the range of Ofsted's remit. In addition, 7,633 school inspectors are contracted to, or employed by, inspection contractors to undertake school inspections under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996. Other bodies, such as local education authorities, employ people who monitor and inspect schools, but details are not collected centrally.

Classroom Assistants

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions about the payment of jobseekers' allowance to classroom assistants and other educational workers not paid during school holidays.

Stephen Timms: None, but officials are in regular contact with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Engineering Students

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference between the projected debts of engineering students in Great Britain and the average for all students; and what measures she has taken to address the difference.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are committed to tackling the problem of students being put off higher education by debt or the perception of debt. That is an important strand of the current review of student support. The Government have also commissioned Sir Gareth Roberts to review the supply of high level science and engineering skills.

Standards Fund

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of specific grants made available from her Department through the Standards Fund required local education authorities to make a contribution in the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01.

Stephen Timms: The percentage of the Standards Fund contributed by local education authorities for each year between 1997–98 and 2000–01 is shown in the table.
	
		Standards Fund contributed by local education authorities
		
			 Financial year Percentage 
		
		
			 1997–98 34 
			 1998–99 36 
			 1999–2000 31 
			 2000–01 24 
		
	
	The Standards Fund programme is designed to be a funding partnership between local education authorities and the Government to support educational initiatives and priorities. Local education authority contributions to the Standards Fund are taken account of in setting the level of Education Standard Spending each year.

Teaching Vacancies

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching vacancies there are in schools in Eastbourne.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.
	There were 43 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in East Sussex local authority in January 2001.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Angela Eagle: A list of statutory instruments issued by the Home Office is as listed. The purpose of each instrument is set out in its explanatory note. Information on the cost of each instrument to public funds, businesses and individuals is not available and could not be made available otherwise than at disproportionate cost.
	Statutory Instruments issued by the Home Department from 13 February 2001 to 12 February 2002 (excluding Orders in Council)
	The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) (Amendment No.2) Order 2001 (no. 418)
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2001 (no. 421)
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Authorised Officers) Order 2001 (no. 425)
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Carding) Order 2001 (no. 426)
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Examining Officers) Order 2001 (no. 427)
	The Terrorism (Interviews) (Scotland) Order 2001 (no. 428 (S.1))
	The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2001 (no. 535)
	The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2001 (no. 566 (C.24))
	The Norfolk (Coroners' Districts) Order 2001 (no. 666)
	The Gaming Act (Variation of Fees) (England and Wales) Order 2001 (no. 725)
	The Gaming Act (Variation of Fees) England and Wales and Scotland Order 2001 (no. 726)
	The Gaming (Bingo) Act (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 727)
	The Lotteries (Gaming Board Fees) Order 2001 (no. 728)
	The Gaming Act (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order 2001 (no. 757)
	The Local Probation Boards (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2001 (no. 786)
	The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (Approved Premises) Regulations 2001 (no. 850)
	The Immigration and Asylum Appeals (One-stop Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 867)
	The Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Notices) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 868)
	The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2001 (no. 919 (C.33))
	The Deregulation (Sunday Licensing) Order 2001 (no. 920)
	The Licensing (Special Hours Certificates) (Amendment) Rules 2001 (no. 921)
	The Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 865)
	The Fixed Penalty (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 926)
	The Local Probation Boards (Appointments and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2001 (no. 1035)
	The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (British Broadcasting Corporation) Order 2001 (no. 1057)
	The Licensing (Amendment of Various Rules) Rules 2001 (no. 1096)
	The Police Act 1997 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2001 (no. 1097 (C.36))
	The Order Prescribing Forms under the Licensing Act 1902 (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 1098)
	The Isles of Scilly (Sale of Intoxicating Liquor) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 1099)
	The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Designation of Public Authorities for the Purposes of Intrusive Surveillance) Order 2001 (no. 1126)
	The Prison Service (Pay Review Body) Regulations 2001 (no. 1161)
	The European Parliamentary Elections (Franchise of Relevant Citizens of the Union) Regulations 2001 (no. 1184)
	The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 1192)
	The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2001 (no. 1194)
	The Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2001 (no. 1204)
	The Human Rights Act (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 1216)
	The Suffolk (District Coroners') Order 2001 (no. 1220)
	The Road Traffic (Owner Liability) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2001 (no. 1222)
	The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 1261)
	The Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001 (no. 1329)
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Part V Exemption: Eligible Voluntary Bodies and Relevant Employers) Order 2001 (no. 1393)
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2001 (no. 1394 (C.49))
	The Immigration (Restrictions on Employment) (Code of Practice) Order 2001 (no. 1436)
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Part V Exemption: Educational Institutions and Health Sector Bodies) Order 2001 (no. 1403)
	The Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2001 (no. 1544)
	The Elections Act 2001 (Supplemental Provisions) Order 2001 (no. 1630)
	The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2001 (no. 56)
	The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2001 (no. 1651 (C.57))
	The Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 1700)
	The Sex Offenders (Notification of Requirements) (Prescribed Police Stations) Regulations 2001 (no. 1708)
	The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2001 (no. 1736)
	The Elections Act 2001 (Supplemental Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2001 (no. 1774)
	The Road Traffic Offenders (Additional Offences and Prescribed Services) Order 2001 (no. 1814)
	The Drug Abstinence Order (Responsible Officer) Order 2001 (no. 1815)
	The Criminal Justice (Specified Class A Drugs) Order 2001 (no. 1816)
	The Sex Offenders (Notice Requirements) (Foreign Travel) Regulations 2001 (no. 1846)
	The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2001 (no. 2223 (C.74))
	The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2001 (no. 2232)
	The Community Order (Electronic Monitoring of Requirements) (Responsible Officer) Order 2001 (no. 2233)
	The Curfew Order and Curfew Requirement (Responsible Officer) Order 2001 (no. 2234)
	The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Modification) Order 2001 (no. 2254)
	The Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 2377)
	The International Criminal Court Act 2001 (Enforcement of Fines, Forfeiture and Reparation Orders) Regulations 2001 (no. 379)
	The National Crime Squad (NCS) Service Authority (Budget Statement) Order 2001 (no. 2427)
	The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) Service Authority (Budget Statement) Order 2001 (no. 2428)
	The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of interviews) (Amendment) Order 2001 (no. 2480)
	The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (no. 2498)
	The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order 2001 (no. 3997)
	The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (no. 3998)
	The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1 and Consequential Provisions) Order 2001 (no. 4019 (C.128))
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Part V Exemption: Relevant Employers) Order 2002 (no. 9)
	The Closure of Prisons Her Majesty's (H.M.) Prison Haslar) Order 2002 (no. 77)
	The Closure of Prisons Her Majesty's (H.M.) Young Offender Institution Dover) Order 2002 (no. 78)
	The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (Firearms Consultative Committee) Order 2002 (no. 127)
	The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2002 (no. 228 (C.4))
	DRAFT European Union Extradition Regulations 2002
	DRAFT Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 2002
	DRAFT Police Act 1997 (Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates) (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) Regulations 2002
	Local Instrument
	The Charities (The Bridge House Estates) Order 2001 (no. 2001/4017).

Mr. Nuredin Dalipi

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce a decision on the application of Mr. Nuredin Dalipi of Shoeburyness, Home Office Reference 0101 2951; and for what reason he has not been given a work permit.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 13 February 2002
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 4 March 2002.

Women Trafficking

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police services exist between the UK and other European police forces to combat the trafficking of women from European countries into the UK.

Angela Eagle: The United Kingdom (UK) works with other law enforcement agencies in Europe with Europol to tackle people trafficking from Europe to the UK. Europol has no executive or operational powers and no capabilities to gather evidence. It is intelligence based and offers a range of products and services to operational law enforcement teams in the European Union. These include analytical support for both strategic and tactical developments and a forum to process requests for assistance in UK investigations with connections in other European Union member states and candidate countries. There is ongoing operational work which is supported by Europol.
	Another link between UK law enforcement and overseas partners is through the establishment of Project Reflex, a practical multi-agency taskforce on organised immigration crime. Led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), Reflex was set up in March 2000 and brings together all the key agencies, including the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), the security and intelligence agencies and key police forces including the Metropolitan police, Kent and the British Transport police. Under Reflex, a central tasking forum has been established to plan and co-ordinate multi-agency operations. It is now well established and the NCS is currently co-operating with overseas law enforcement partners on the disruption of organised criminal groups intent on trafficking.

Anti-semitism

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on anti-semitism in the UK; and what action he has taken to combat it.

Angela Eagle: The Government are fully committed to tackling racism and anti-Semitism wherever it occurs. We have continued to strengthen our anti-discrimination laws and our criminal law to ensure that it continues to offer some of the most comprehensive protection against racism and anti-Semitism in Europe. In that regard we have introduced the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000; we are looking at ways to implement the European Union directives on race and discrimination in employment; strengthen the law on incitement to racial hatred by raising the maximum penalty to seven years' imprisonment and extending the scope to hatred directed against racial groups outside the United Kingdom and introduced religiously aggravated offences to add to the racially aggravated offences we introduced in 1998. We have asked the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to work together to pool knowledge and experience in the investigation and prosecution of race hate material.
	We have also made significant changes to our laws countering the threat of terrorism, including the Terrorism Act 2000 and, in response to the events of September 11, the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. The Government and the police continue to have a good working relationship with the Jewish community in Britain. The Government share the concern of the Jewish community that anti-Semitic incidents recorded by the community rose after September 11 but we welcome the co-operation and the experience of the Jewish community in security matters which has benefited all our communities over the last few months.
	As a final example of the work that is ongoing, on 27 January 2002 the second Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated. We established this event to educate people about and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten. In doing so the day helps to counter anti-Semitism and other forms of racism and bigotry.

Drug Addicts

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many treatment places for addicts of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine are available; how many are being used; and what estimate he makes of the total numbers of addicts of these substances.

Bob Ainsworth: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) is the main source of information on people receiving drug treatment. 118,500 people were in treatment during 2000–2001—an eight per cent. increase over the last two years.
	Information on the number of places provided specifically for heroin or cocaine users is not available, as all treatment places are for rehabilitation from all drug addictions.
	Estimates from the British Crime Survey 2000 are that 4 million people use illicit drugs each year. Of the 1.8 million that use Class A drugs, 160,000–280,000 are problematic drug users.

Prison Estate

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to ensure back-up of record keeping within the Prison Estate in the event of fire or other cause of destruction of files and nominal rolls.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Paper records relating to individual prisoners are kept in prisons, headquarters and the Prison Service Registry. Back up of manual files is not considered viable, instead reliance is placed on prevention techniques to safeguard the integrity of records from fire and other environmental threats.
	Electronic prisoner records are stored on the Prison Service inmate system at each establishment with overnight back up to the headquarters system. The Prison Service headquarters computer records are backed up daily and are stored at a secure off-site location. Establishments computer records are backed-up daily and stored in fireproof safes and held securely remotely from the computer they relate to.

Minister for Women

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of the Minister for Women in his Department.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 26 February 2002
	I am Minister for Women in the Home Office and its services—police, probation, prisons and the immigration service. The role of Minister for Women in the Home Office is to champion women's issues and promote gender as a core issue for the Department and its services.

Sex Offender Treatment Programmes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  who is responsible for overseeing the quality and implementation of sex offender treatment programmes throughout the prison estate; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many offenders have had places on sex offender treatment programmes in each of the last five years; what the target was for the number of offenders on these programmes in each year for which targets were set; what the estimate is of the total number of sex offenders in prison at any one time; what the total number of sex offenders who were on programmes in young offenders institutions was in each of the last five years; what the estimate is of the total number of young sex offenders in custody at any one time; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service measures its performance in delivering the sex offender treatment programme by completions rather than by the number of participants, because some participants who start the programme may not complete it. The table sets out the targets, completions and completions adjusted in the light of audit quality markings awarded to each programme site (the latter figure representing the Service's final Key Performance Indicator score).
	
		
			 Year Targets Completions Audit adjusted completions 
		
		
			 1996–97 650 680 663 
			 1997–98 670 736 671 
			 1998–99 680 664 589 
			 1999–2000 700 669 585 
			 2001–01 1,020 851 783 
		
	
	The numbers of prisoners in custody for sexual offences over the past five years were as follows.
	
		
			  Year Sentenced male adult sex offenders in custody Sentenced male young offenders in custody 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,786 153 
			 1997–98 3,903 166 
			 1998–99 4,574 205 
			 1999–2000 4,714 215 
			 2000–01 4,854 216 
		
	
	The quality and implementation of the sex offender treatment programme is overseen by the Prison Service's Offending Behaviour Programmes Unit working to standards set and maintained by the independent Prison/ Probation Service Joint Accreditation Panel. The Unit develops the programmes, the implementation processes and the audit processes, all of which must then be accredited by the Panel. The Unit ensures that the standards demanded by those processes are maintained by training staff and by annual audits of implementation, carried out to the accredited standards. The Panel also conducts an annual moderating exercise on the audits conducted by the Unit.

Illegal Drugs

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the results of the study commissioned from York university on the costs of illegal drugs in Britain.

Bob Ainsworth: The University of York, Centre for Criminal Justice Economics and Psychology (Culyer A, Eaton G, Godfrey C et al, 2002) has recently completed a research report for the Home Office entitled 'The Economic and Social Costs of Class A Drugs Misuse in England and Wales, 2000'. The report will be published as a Home Office Research Study (HORS) in early summer.

Departmental Functions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what functions of the former DfEE were transferred to the Home Office on the reorganisation of departmental responsibilities following the general election in 2001.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 26 February 2002
	The function for work permits, which formerly were the responsibility of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) were transferred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office after the general election.

Prakash Hinduja

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the inquiries received from hon. Members since 1 May 1997 in respect of a possible application for nationality by Prakash Hinduja; if an application is under consideration; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 7 February 2002
	Sir Anthony Hammond's "Review of the Circumstances Surrounding an Application for Naturalisation by Mr. S P Hinduja in 1998", published in March last year, included at Chapter six consideration of Mr. Prakash Hinduja's inquiries about naturalisation as a British citizen. There have been no further developments since then.

Performance Targets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many performance targets have been set by his Department, agencies and non- departmental public bodies since May 1997 on (a) prisons policy, (b) police policy, (c) fire and emergency planning policy, (d) probation policy, (e) immigration, asylum and nationality policy, (f) constitutional policy, (g) reducing crime, (h) the prevention of terrorism and the reduction of organised and international crime, (i) sentencing, (j) youth justice policy, (k) crime prevention policy, (l) policy relating to victims and witnesses and (m) community and voluntary sector policy; how many of those targets have been (i) amended, (ii) revoked and (iii) achieved since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The details requested are set out in the table, although most have not yet reached their target date of either 31 March 2002 or March 2004.
	
		
			  Number of targets Amended Revoked Achieved 
		
		
			 (a) Prisons policy 5 1 — — 
			 (b) Police policy 2 1 — — 
			 (c) Fire and emergency planning policy(9) 3 — — — 
			 (d) Probation policy 1 — — — 
			 (e) Immigration, asylum and nationality 4 2 — — 
			 (f) Constitutional policy(10) 3 — — 2 
			 (g) Reducing crime 7 1 — — 
			 (h) The prevention of terrorism and the reduction of organised and international crime 4 1 — 2 
			 (i) Sentencing 1 1 — — 
			 (j) Youth justice policy 2 1 — — 
			 (k) Crime prevention policy 3 1 — — 
			 (l) Policy relating to victims and witnesses 1 1 — — 
			 (m) Community and voluntary sector policy 1 1 — — 
		
	
	(9) Responsibility for Fire and Emergency Planning was transferred to the Cabinet Office and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2001.
	(10) Responsibility for Constitutional Policy was transferred to the Lord Chancellor's Department in 2001.
	The targets listed were set in the public service agreements in 1998 and 2000.
	These are the published high level targets only. Each business area has more detailed internal management targets.

Asylum Seekers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were accommodated in prisons in (a) November 2001, (b) December 2001 and (c) January 2002.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 September 2001. The total number of asylum seekers detained in prison establishments as at that date is given in the table.
	
		
			 Place of detention Asylum seekers detained as at 30 September 2001(11),(12) 
		
		
			 Dedicated Immigration Service wings(13) 390 
			 Other prison establishments(14) 460 
			  
			 Total persons detained in prison establishments(14) 850 
		
	
	(11) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
	(12) Persons detained under Immigration Act powers who are recorded as having claimed asylum at some stage.
	(13) Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester.
	(14) Includes 145 persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.
	Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 December 2001 will be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html.
	The temporary use of spaces in a number of local prisons ended in mid-January 2002, as did the use of the accommodation at Her Majesty's prison (HMP) Rochester. In addition, the dedicated detention facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme were redesignated formally as immigration removal centres on 8 February 2002, thus requiring them to operate under Detention Centre Rules rather than Prison Rules. These changes will not be reflected fully in the statistics until the information on Immigration Act detainees as at 30 March 2002 is published on 31 May 2002 on the RDS website.

European Documents

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his position towards Council Document 14461/01, on the Competence, Recognition and Execution of Decisions Pertaining to Parental Responsibility.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK supports the underlying aim of this proposal, which is to improve arrangements in cross-border cases, and in particular to extend the principle of mutual recognition to all decisions on parental responsibility by establishing a clear and coherent set of rules for attributing jurisdiction and proper arrangements for co-operation between national courts and authorities. An explanatory memorandum on the proposal has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Director of Public Prosecutions

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff are employed by the DPP in Northern Ireland; and what proportion are lawyers.

John Reid: I have been asked to reply. 
	The Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland currently has the equivalent to 185 full-time posts, of which 30.27 per cent. are legal.

Lord Chancellor (Duties)

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the Lord Chancellor's attendance record for the last 36 months for (a) Committees of the House of Lords and (b) other non-Government bodies on which he sits.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor is an ex-officio member of two Committees of the House of Lords: the Offices Committee and the Procedure Committee. Since February 1999, the Lord Chancellor has attended two out of 15 meetings of the Offices Committee and three out of nine meetings of the Procedure Committee. In keeping with established practice, the Lord Chancellor is not expected to attend all the meetings of these Committees and will attend only those meetings where his participation is required.
	The Lord Chancellor is an officer of, or a member of, the following bodies which could reasonably be described as 'non-Government':
	British-American Parliamentary Group, Joint President;
	Christ's College, Cambridge, Honorary Fellow;
	The Church Commission, Commissioner;
	Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Joint President;
	Friends of the Slade School of Fine Art, Committee Member;
	Hunterian Collection, Trustee;
	Industry and Parliament Trust, Joint President;
	Inner Temple, Bencher;
	Inn of Court of Northern Ireland, Honorary Bencher;
	Magistrates Association, President;
	The Polish Bar, Honorary Member;
	Society for Advanced Legal Studies, Honorary Fellow;
	US College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow; and
	World Mental Health Federation, Vice Patron.
	Details of the Lord Chancellor's attendance at meetings of those bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Lord Saville

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Department is paying the salary of Lord Saville of Newdigate; what the total capitation cost for a Lord Justice of his seniority was in 2001; and how much has been paid to him during the time the Saville Inquiry has been sitting.

Michael Wills: Lord Saville of Newdigate is a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, not a Lord Justice. The salaries of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are paid from the Consolidated Fund and the payments are administered by HM Treasury. The current annual salary for a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary is £157,699.
	In addition to his salary, Lord Saville has been paid expenses allowance of £50 per day for each day that he has been in Londonderry engaged in the Inquiry. To date Lord Saville has been paid £9,700 in respect of this daily allowance. This allowance is paid from a budget held by the Northern Ireland Office.

North-South Ministerial Council

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the findings were of the reserved judgment read in the Belfast High Court on 30 January 2001.

Rosie Winterton: Judgment was delivered in the High Court in Belfast on 30 January 2001 In the Matter of an Application by Bairbre de Brun and Martin McGuinness for judicial review. Copies of the judgment have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years.

Rosie Winterton: This answer covers the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department (including associated offices), the Court Service, Public Guardianship Office, Land Registry, Public Record Office, Northern Ireland Court Service, Legal Services Commission and the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service. No industrial action has been taken in the Departments, agencies and NDPBs for which the Lord Chancellor has responsibility in any of the last four years, with exception of the Land Registry, which lost 170 days due to industrial action in April 2001.

Union Duties

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last four years.

Rosie Winterton: This answer covers the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department (including Associated Offices), the Court Service, Public Guardianship Office, Land Registry, Public Record Office, Northern Ireland Court Service, Legal Services Commission and the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS).
	The position is as follows:
	LCD HQ
	2000–01: 11 staff spent 216 days on union duties at a cost of £16,920.
	1999–2000: 12 staff spent 216 days on union duties at a cost of £16,080.
	1998–99: Nine staff spent 163 days on union duties at a cost of £11,552.
	1997–98: 10 staff spent 179 days on union duties at a cost of £12,077. Court Service
	The information relates to trade union representatives working for the Court Service who are allocated 50 per cent. or more of their time to undertake industrial relations duties. Information on trade union representatives who spend less than 50 per cent. of their time on union activities is not held centrally.
	2000–01: 28 staff spent 4,887 days on union duties at a cost of £484,126.
	1999–2000: 27 staff spent 4,517 days on union duties at a cost of £447,472.
	1998–99: 28 staff spent 4,331 days on union duties at a cost of £429,046.
	1997–98: 28 staff spent 4,419 days on union duties at a cost of £411,017. Public Guardianship Office
	The PGO was established as an executive agency of LCD on 1 April 2001. In April 2001, two staff were allowed to work full-time on union duties and a third for 50 per cent. of their time at a total cost of £47,339. Figures for the Public Trust Office, which was abolished in 2001, are not available.
	Land Registry
	The details show the total hours spent by staff given special leave to undertake union duties. Because the Land Registry is a Trading Fund the allocations do not draw on public funds; the costs are met from fees paid by customers.
	2001–01: 155 staff spent a total of 1,267 days on union duties.
	1990–2000: 154 staff spent a total of 1,322 days on union duties.
	1998–99: 152 staff spent a total of 1,545 days on union duties.
	1997–98: 158 staff spent a total of 1,646 days on union duties. Public Record Office
	The Public Record Office allows a part-time Trade Union Side officer 18 hours per week for union business. The cost of this was £8,180 in 2001, £7,803 in 2000, £7,509 in 1999 and £7,176 in 1998.
	Northern Ireland Court Service
	The cost of 13 staff who received paid leave to undertake union duties each year is as follows:
	2001: £24,200
	2000: £23,300
	1999: £22,400
	1998: £21,600.
	These costs have been based on the average salary costs for each employee who has received paid leave to undertake union duties.
	Legal Services Commission
	Paid time off for trade union duties is granted with management agreement but is not monitored centrally. Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
	CAFCASS is currently negotiating a Partnership Agreement with the trade unions which will cover trade union facilities and time off. It is hoped that the new policies will be approved in March 2002.

Community Fines

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many community fines were cancelled in the west midlands up to and including the year ending September 2001.

Michael Wills: There are two types of non-custodial sentences: fines and community penalties. If a community penalty is breached the offender is brought back before the court for whatever action the court deems appropriate. This could mean that the court imposes further hours on the order or an additional condition. Alternatively it could result in the order being revoked and the offender instead receiving a term of imprisonment if such a sentence was available for the original offence. 1,398 community penalties were revoked in the west midlands in the year 2000.
	A fine may be cancelled (remitted) in whole or in part by the courts if circumstances have changed since the conviction. A large proportion of financial penalties cancelled are where a defaulter is imprisoned for wilful refusal or culpable neglect to pay, or where a defaulter is already serving a prison term for a separate offence.
	Statistics on the number of fines cancelled are not kept. The value of all impositions, including fines, cancelled in the West Midlands Magistrates Courts Committee area amounted to £7,643,470 in the year ending September 2001.

Judicial Appeals

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will seek to change the rules of court to permit (a) the Court of Appeal to correct an order of the court if it can be shown that the Lord Justices reached their conclusion inappropriately and (b) a right of appeal against a decision of the Court of Appeal where it over-ruled the original decision of the court; and under what powers the Court Service may reject or delay an application for an appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling.

Michael Wills: It is not clear whether this question relates to the civil courts or to the criminal courts and so I have answered for both jurisdictions.
	In the civil courts:
	EWCA Civ 90) sets out the circumstances in which it might consider reopening an application or appeal;
	(d) there already is a right of appeal against a decision of the Court of Appeal where it "over-ruled the original decision of the court" (of first instance)—that appeal lies to the House of Lords and permission is required.
	In the criminal courts:
	(c) the Court of Appeal has an inherent jurisdiction to reopen cases where it considers that an earlier hearing was listed in error and the Criminal Cases Review Commission may refer a case back to the Court;
	(d) the position is the same as with civil cases, except that the Court of Appeal has to certify that there is a point of law of general public importance involved before an application for permission can be made.
	The Lord Chancellor has no plans to propose any alteration to the present rules in either jurisdiction.
	The Court Service does not reject any application which is properly made and is within the Court's jurisdiction. When any application to the Court is listed for hearing is a case management decision, usually made by a member of the Court's listing staff acting under general instruction from the Court.

Census (1901)

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when work started on transcribing the 1901 Census returns on to computer.

Rosie Winterton: Work commenced on transcription in March 2000.

Census (1901)

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his latest estimate is of the date when the 1901 Census on-line service will become available (a) at designated service centres and (b) generally to on-line searchers.

Rosie Winterton: QinetiQ Ltd. is continuing to work on the technical enhancements. Rigorous testing will be completed during the next few weeks. These enhancements are intended to make the site sufficiently robust to permit general Internet access, and are being done with a sense of urgency. However, the most important consideration is to ensure that the service is re-launched successfully. The system will again be made available to designate service centres as part of the general re-introduction of the site. General on-line searches will be available as soon as practicable following testing.

Census (1901)

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people were employed to check the transcriptions onto computer of the 1901 Census returns.

Rosie Winterton: At the peak of quality assuring the data, some 68 full time equivalent individuals were employed by the Public Record Office.

Census (1901)

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria were used to select the people who were employed to check the transcriptions onto computer of the 1901 Census returns.

Rosie Winterton: The individuals employed by the Public Record Office to quality assure the 1901 Census transcribed data were required to undertake and pass a transcription test in reading late-nineteenth century handwriting.

Magistrates Courts

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the number of magistrates' courts.

Michael Wills: The Government's policy is that decisions on the number and location of magistrates courts in England and Wales are for the individual magistrates courts committees to determine, in consultation with their local paying authorities.
	It is for each magistrates court committee to decide how best to deploy its resources in order to fulfil its statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each.

Michael Wills: No directives or regulations relating to the Lord Chancellor's Department came into effect in 1998 or 1999. The information for the following years is set out in the table. The costs to public funds given do not take account of officials' time, which is not readily quantifiable.
	
		
			 Title Purpose Cost to public funds Cost to business 
		
		
			 2000
			 Directive 98/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 To facilitate the practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a member state of the European Community other than the state in which the qualification was obtained Negligible Negligible; if anything businesses gained as a result of easier access to European markets 
			 
			 2001
			 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 of 2 May 2000 To establish rules relating to jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses £3,500 for the production of forms and leaflets Negligible 
			 Council regulation (EC) No. 1348/2000 of 29 May 2000 To establish common rules throughout the EU for the transmission of legal documents in cross-border civil and commercial matters Negligible Negligible, since the scheme replaced bilateral agreements and a Hague Convention 
			 2002
			 Council Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 of 22 December 2000 To establish updated rules relating to jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters Negligible Negligible

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Spending Review

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to appraise the environmental implications of its Spending Review submission to the Treasury.

John Reid: As part of my Department's Spending Review submission to the Treasury, we will, in common with other Departments, report on the sustainable development of our bids which will detail any environmental impact.

Environmental Appraisals

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many environmental appraisals have been published by his Department since 1 January 2001; and if he will list the last four.

John Reid: The work of the Northern Ireland Office only rarely if ever has a direct impact on the environment.
	It is normal practice in the Department for the implications of administrative and policy decisions to be analysed rigorously prior to any decision being taken. If environmental considerations emerged, appropriate appraisals would be conducted.

Environmental Appraisals

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when the last occasion was on which he requested an environmental appraisal before making a policy decision;
	(2)  what procedures his Department has to ensure environmental appraisals are undertaken prior to (a) administrative and (b) policy decisions being made.

John Reid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave for question ref. 29028.

Empty Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last four years.

John Reid: The NIO currently owns no properties that are empty, therefore there are no related costs.

Empty Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total area in square feet of all empty properties owned by (a) his Department, (b) his agencies and (c) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility was in each year since May 1997.

John Reid: My Department does not own any properties which are currently empty.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in each year since May 1997.

John Reid: The only work carried out to ministerial private offices has been as a result of moving to different buildings, for operational purposes. The cost of these works cannot be separated from the overall cost of all the works associated with these relocations.

Defence Lawyers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates training seminars on the role of defence lawyers have been held for individual criminal justice agencies; what the programme was and how many people attended each seminar; if he will place a copy of training materials used in the Library; and what plans he has for future events of this kind.

Des Browne: Individual criminal justice agencies will be responsible for developing training seminars on the role of defence lawyers, working with the Law Society, which has welcomed the recommendation in the Criminal Justice Review and confirmed a willingness, wherever practical, to contribute constructively to its implementation.

Firearms

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the objections are of the Chief Constable to the application in Northern Ireland of section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 requiring the establishment of a register of persons who have applied for and been granted a licence to carry a firearm.

Jane Kennedy: The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 is not applicable to Northern Ireland. However, information on all firearms certificate holders is currently held on a Police Service of Northern Ireland computer system.

Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst & Young, (c) Deloitte & Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services for the financial years (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating the remuneration in each case.

John Reid: Payments made to each of the companies during the periods in question were as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001(15) 
		
		
			 PWC Consulting/PricewaterhouseCoopers 115,829 273,705 70,853 (16)1,982,924 126,274 
			 Ernst & Young 0 0 5,500 5,500 0 
			 Deloitte & Touche 39,372 133,210 155,498 2,145,743 414,962 
			 KPMG 27,250 0 0 0 62,313 
			 Andersen 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(15) To date.
	(16) This figure contains an estimate of maximum cost of an on-going contract.
	As no records are held centrally, there would be disproportionate costs involved in identifying the actual number of contracts let to each company.

Accountancy Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by his Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

John Reid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), Question ref. 33854.

Job Advertisements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the job advertisements placed by his Department in the last 12 months specifying where the advertisements were placed and the cost in each case.

John Reid: The Department advertises external competitions in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and Newsletter unless another newspaper is specifically requested.
	The vacancies advertised in the last 12 months are as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			 Vacancy Cost 
		
		
			 Crown Solicitor 3,296.34 
			 Legal Assistants—DPP 2,594.83 
			 Support Grade Band 2 (SBG II)—Gardener(17) 2,280 
			 Head of Accounts (NI Prison Service)(18)5,247.72 
			 Head of Financial Services Division(18) 
			 Assistant Director—DPP 3,875.23 
			 Head of Corporate Services—DPP(19) 14,191.37 
			 SGBII—Repository Assistant 583.64 
		
	
	(17) This post was also advertised in the Ulster Star.
	(18) These competitions were run jointly.
	(19) This competition had to be re-advertised and the costs were split between the Recruitment agency and the newspapers concerned.

Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by his Department in each of the last four years.

John Reid: Details of the Department's (including its agencies, but excluding NDPBs as we do not have access to a breakdown of their expenditure) total expenditure on in-house canteen and other catering services combined (unable to identify separate costs) in each of the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 878,146 
			 1999–2000 1,112,965 
			 2000–01 832,771 
			 2001–02 (20)425,124 
		
	
	(20) To date. Full year estimate £510,150.
	Note:
	Please note that this expenditure includes catering for Government functions held at Hillsborough Castle.

City of London Corporation (Events)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997.

John Reid: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All attendance at events, engagements and functions by Ministers and civil servants is taken in line with the guidance and principles set out in the Ministerial Code and Departmental Handbooks.

Departmental Staff

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff left the service of his Department and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001; how many left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60 years; and in respect of how many his Department and its agencies assumed responsibilities for making payments until retirement age.

John Reid: The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Civil servants Prison Officers 
		
		
			 Number of staff who left my Department in the year ended 31 March 2001 69 878 
			
			 Number of staff who left my Department before formal retirement age 54 878 
			 Number of staff my Department assumed the responsibility of making payment to until retirement age 2 334

Correspondence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average response time was for responding to departmental correspondence; what percentage of letters took longer than one month for a response; and what percentage took longer than three months for a response in each of the last five years.

John Reid: This information is not held in the format requested.
	Since 1 October 1999 the Northern Ireland Office has applied revised service standards. Details of the Department's performance in meeting the target of replying to letters within 15 working days over the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 can be found in the 2001 Departmental Report. The statistics for 2000–01 are presently being collated and will be published in the spring in the 2002 Departmental Report.
	Statistics on the Department's performance in responding to ministerial correspondence is also contained in the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Reports held in the House of Commons Library.

SCOTLAND

Census Website

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  how many hits were received by the 1901 Scottish Census website in its first 24 hours of operation; what the latest average daily number of hits is; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the ISP bandwidth is of the 1901 Scottish Census website.

Helen Liddell: This matter is devolved and is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the status of the bi-lateral agreement between the Governments of Britain and Spain.

Peter Hain: The provisions of the Joint Communiqué agreed in Brussels on 27 November 1984 remain in effect. The negotiating process established by that Communiqué, aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spanish Governments over Gibraltar, continues.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been accorded to Gibraltar under the Interreg III Community Initiative.

Peter Hain: Gibraltar is currently involved in three Interreg III programmes, with an allocation of 425,000 euro for each, for the period 2000–06. These are: a dedicated Gibraltar/Morocco programme; the South West Europe programme (covering Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and South West France); and the Western Mediterranean programme (covering Southern Portugal, Southern and Eastern Spain, the South East of France, and Western Italy).

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding for Gibraltar, in addition to the Interreg III Community Initiative, will be provided following a bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain under the Brussels Process.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Syd Rapson) on 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1308W.

British Influence (EU)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list advisers who attended an FCO seminar on 6 January 1999 which discussed the paper 'Building British Influence in the EU' by Charles Grant.

Peter Hain: One Special Adviser to the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. David Clark, attended the seminar on 6 January 1999 that discussed the paper 'Building British Influence in the EU'.

British Influence (EU)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the seminar on British influence in the EU; and if he will list (a) those Ministers and (b) the grades of officials who attended.

Peter Hain: The seminar on British influence in the European Union was held on 6 January 1999. It was convened to discuss a paper prepared for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Policy Planning Department by Charles Grant. The following Ministers attended: my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Joyce Quin), then Minister of State. Several civil servants of various grades also attended.

Council of Ministers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will improve the publication and availability to Parliament of relevant draft European directives, decisions and regulations prior to decisions in the Council of Ministers.

Peter Hain: A UK initiative to respond to Westminster concerns about late receipt of texts from Brussels resulted in the Protocol on National Parliaments, annexed to the treaty of Amsterdam, introducing a minimum scrutiny period of six weeks between receipt of official texts and their earliest adoption in the Council of Ministers.
	The Government are committed to send to Parliament proposals for European legislation under all three pillars of EU activity as soon as they are received from the Council Secretariat.

Steel Industry (Romania)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications there have been between his Department and the European Commission regarding the privatisation of the Romanian state-owned steel industry.

Peter Hain: European Union member states, including the UK, have worked with the Commission in the relevant EU Committees to encourage the Romanian Government to complete the privatisation of their steel industry as part of their economic reform programme in preparation for EU membership, and to establish a level playing field between EU and Romanian steel producers.

LNM Group

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance was given by the British Embassy in Bucharest to the LNM Group in its attempts to acquire Sidex.

Peter Hain: The Embassy offered all the help to which any company meeting Trade Partners UK's requirements would be entitled. This support continued until the successful conclusion of the deal, when the Ambassador recommended that the Prime Minister should write to his Romanian opposite number to welcome the outcome.

Ambassadors (Guidelines on Representations)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines ambassadors are expected to follow when they are asked to make representations on behalf of a British company; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: It is part of every ambassador's job to promote British commercial interests overseas. In determining whether to act in any particular case, diplomatic posts overseas are expected to consider the benefit to the UK, including the effect on British commercial, economic and foreign policy interests.

Colombia

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visits to Colombia made by his Department's Ministers since 1 January 1999.

Denis MacShane: The following Foreign Office Ministers have visited Colombia since 1 January 1999.
	10–13 September 2000—the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle),
	15–18 October 2001—me.

Colombia

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the Government of the United States in the past year regarding the peace process in Colombia.

Denis MacShane: We have continuing discussions with the US Administration about developments in Colombia, including the peace process and other related issues. Dr. Mo Mowlam discussed Colombia during her visit to Washington in March 2001, as I did when I visited in August 2001.

Colombia

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the recent breaking-off of the peace negotiations in Colombia.

Denis MacShane: The UK fully understand President Pastrana's decision to suspend dialogue with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). We support this and the decision President Pastrana has taken to terminate the demilitarised zone. I made this clear in my press statement of 21 February and this is a key point in the EU statement of 22 February available on www.fco.gov.uk..
	We continue to believe that only peaceful dialogue can bring an end to the internal conflict in Colombia and shall continue to urge the Colombian Government to seek a solution through peaceful means.

Latin America

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Ministers from his Department have to visit each country in Latin America, indicating the proposed month of each visit.

Denis MacShane: Since taking on responsibility for Latin America I have visited Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil and fully intend to continue to visit the region as often as my schedule allows. This is kept under regular review. The Foreign Secretary also intends to visit Latin America this year as will Baroness Symons.

British Nationals Abroad

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times his Department has been asked to help British nationals abroad who have (a) been imprisoned and (b) suffered serious illness in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: More than 3,000 British nationals are currently in prison overseas and looking after their welfare is one of our Consular staff's key duties. They visit prisoners at least once a year, more regularly in many cases. If necessary, we raise individual cases with local authorities to ensure that British prisoners' welfare is adequately provided for, and their human rights respected, in accordance with international standards. This includes pressing for proper medical treatment if a prisoner falls ill.
	All British Embassies and High Commissions overseas keep records of when prisoners are visited and if they have suffered health problems. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not collate data centrally on the number of prisoners who suffer serious illnesses and so to provide this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Romania

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of Foreign Office support and sponsorship for organisations promoting bilateral relations between the UK and Romania and list the organisations concerned.

Peter Hain: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The Foreign Office has consistently supported organisations promoting bilateral relationships between the UK and Romania. Examples include the British-Romanian All-Party Parliamentary Group, the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce, the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe, Communication Workers' Union Humanitarian Aid, the Lay Visiting Charitable Trust, and the Mihai Eminescu Trust.
	FCO support includes sponsorship for particular projects, briefings for MPs and others, and assistance to charities having difficulties with Romanian import requirements.

Romania

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at whose request and on whose advice the Romanian Government were invited to visit Britain in November 2001.

Peter Hain: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Romanian Prime Minister was invited by the CBI in June 2001 to speak to their Annual conference on 6 November. On the advice of the FCO, the Prime Minister agreed to a meeting with Mr. Nastase during this visit.

FCO-Sponsored Organisations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the organisations promoting bilateral relations between the UK and individual foreign countries which have been sponsored by his Department in each year since 1997.

Peter Hain: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This information is not available centrally and the cost of collecting it would involve disproportionate cost.

FCO-Sponsored Organisations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) present and (b) former Ministers in his Department have been associated with Foreign Office-sponsored organisations promoting bilateral relations between the UK and individual foreign countries in each year since 1997.

Peter Hain: holding answer 27 February 2002
	All present and former Foreign Office Ministers are involved with officially sponsored organisations promoting bilateral relations with other countries.

FCO-Sponsored Organisations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the organisations promoting bilateral relations between the UK and individual foreign countries set up in each year since 1997 which his Department has sponsored.

Peter Hain: holding answer 27 February 2002
	This information is not available centrally and the costs of collecting it would incur disproportionate cost.

General Affairs Council

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a Scottish Executive Minister will be a member of the UK delegation to the General Affairs European Union Council of Ministers meeting on 18 and 19 February; and what information is being provided by his Department to permit pre-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Peter Hain: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The UK was represented at the 18–19 February General Affairs Council by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and me.
	Arrangements for scrutiny by the European Committee of the Executive's involvement in preparations for EU Council of Ministers meetings are a matter for them. The Government provide the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament, for information, with the same Explanatory Memoranda on EU documents as are provided to the Westminster Scrutiny Committees.

British Defence Exporters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the measures needed to protect British defence exporters from being included in blanket regulatory legislation to control private military companies; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The consultative paper "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation", which was published on 12 February, examines a variety of options for regulation and invites all interested parties to make their views known to the FCO during the consultation period up to the middle of August this year. The Government recognise the need to define carefully the scope of any legislation designed to regulate the activities of private military companies in order to distinguish them from security and defence equipment companies. A full regulatory impact assessment would be drawn up once final decisions on any legislative proposal have been made.

Mercenaries

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the measures needed to make the distinction between mercenaries involved in direct combat and those providing assistance for ground troops only; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The paper "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulations" which was published on 12 February, examines the various activities of private military companies and sets out options for their regulation. It is a consultation paper, and invited comments from all interested parties by mid-August 2002. The Government will make final decisions on the way forward after this consultation period.
	As the paper points out, private military companies may provide a wide range of different services: such as advice, training, logistic support, supply of personnel for monitoring roles and demining.

Mercenaries

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the problems other countries have faced when using mercenaries; what measures are planned to counteract such problems; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The paper "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation", published on 12 February, describes the activities of a number of private military companies employed by other countries. It also includes outlines of current legislation in a number of countries relating to mercenaries and allied activity. Few countries have national legislation on private military companies.
	The paper is a consultative document, setting out a variety of options for regulating, under UK law, the activities of such companies.

Lakshmi Mittal

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department and its agencies have made of the background of Mr. Mittal of LNM Holdings in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 February 2002
	None. As in all such cases an assessment was made of whether LNM/Ispat was a company we should support.

LNM/Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what undertakings were (a) sought and (b) received from LNM/Ispat International when it obtained the assistance of the British ambassador in Romania in its attempted acquisition of Sidex.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 23 February 2002
	None.

LNM/Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, and on what authority, the British ambassador in Romania was authorised to assist the attempted acquisition of Sidex by LNM/Ispat International.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Posts have a wide measure of discretion to support British companies in their market. They do not require specific authorisation to offer such support, unless it involves the Post spending public money, which was not the case with LNM/Ispat. Posts maintain regular contact with Trade Partners UK and other Government Departments as necessary about their activities, as happened in this case.

Government Wine Cellar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it has been Government policy since 1997 to boycott the purchase of fine wines from certain countries for the Government wine cellar as part of the ethical foreign policy; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Wine in the Government wine cellar is bought on the basis of quality and value for money from wine producing democracies in Europe, the Commonwealth and the Americas.
	Since 1997 Government Hospitality has only bought wines from England, Wales, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I have asked Government Hospitality to include Latin American wines in the future.

Government Wine Cellar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason his Department is the lead Department in managing Government wine stocks.

Denis MacShane: The Government wine cellar is managed by Government Hospitality Section of Conference and Visits Group, with the advice of the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine. Responsibility for the Government Hospitality Fund (as it then was) was transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Cabinet Office/Civil Service Department by a Cabinet decision in 1980.

European Federation of Journalists

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom activities of the European Federation of Journalists.

Peter Hain: We have no knowledge of the United Kingdom activities of the European Federation of Journalists.

Republic of Congo

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has collated on the make up of the European Union observer teams that will observe the presidential elections in the Republic of Congo in March, broken down by (a) country and (b) role.

Jack Straw: The EU Electoral Observation Mission is made up as follows:
	18 long-term observers
	Italy (Four); Belgium and France (Three each); Germany, Spain, and Austria (Two each); Ireland and Portugal (One each).
	20 short-term observers
	Spain (Three), Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden (Two each); Germany, Netherlands, and Finland (One each), with Austria and Luxembourg providing one reserve each.
	A core team of six experts will be present throughout—Head of Mission (Portugal), Deputy Head of Mission (Spain), Media Expert (Italy), Logistics and Security Expert (France), Legal Expert (Spain), and a co-ordinator for the Long Term Experts (France).

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the European Union and (b) member countries of the Southern African Development Community concerning the impartiality of the 20 observers appointed by the Tanzanian Government to monitor the Zimbabwean presidential election.

Jack Straw: Neither I, nor any members of my Department, have held discussions with European Union or member countries of the Southern Africa Development Community about the Tanzanian election observation team in Zimbabwe.

British Prisoners (Guantanamo Bay)

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Ben Bradshaw: A team of British officials paid a second visit to Guantanamo Bay between 26 February and 1 March. The purpose of the visit was to ask questions relevant to national security, to establish the identity and nationality of two British detainees transferred there in February and to check on the current welfare of all five British detainees. The British officials were from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Security Service.
	The officials met the detainees individually. The meetings were held in the presence of US officials. The detainees appeared to be in satisfactory physical health, though two complained of minor ailments that are being addressed by the US authorities. None of the detainees complained of having been mistreated. At the time of the meetings with the detainees none was involved in the hunger strike reported in the camp.
	British officials handed recent written letters from some of the detainees' families to the camp authorities to be passed to the detainees. Some of the detainees asked the officials to relay oral messages to their families. All the detainees confirmed that they had had the opportunity to write letters to their families through the camp authorities or through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
	On the conditions in the camp, work is now in hand to provide indoor accommodation including individual sleeping and toilet facilities. Medical facilities now include a field hospital in addition to the clinic at Camp X-Ray itself. Exercise arrangements have also been enhanced. All detainees remain able to conduct their religious duties. They have copies of the Koran and have prayer caps and towels for use as prayer mats. Calls to prayer are broadcast throughout the camp.
	The visiting team found the US camp authorities open and fully co-operative.
	The ICRC continues to maintain a presence at Guantanamo Bay. It has access on demand to the detainees.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the visits and meetings so far (a) undertaken and (b) arranged by the Lessons Learned Inquiry into Foot and Mouth.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 28 February 2002
	I understand that the Chairman of the Lessons Learned Inquiry and members of his Secretariat visited the South West of England on 23–24 January, Wales on 6–7 February, Scotland on 14–15 February and the Netherlands on 25–26 February. Members of the Inquiry Secretariat visited Anglesey on 20 February. The Inquiry is planning visits to the North East and North West of England and Yorkshire in the next few weeks.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if it was a condition, accepted by Dr. Anderson on his appointment as Chairman of the Foot and Mouth Lessons Learned Inquiry, that interviews conducted with Ministers or senior officials would not be published in verbatim form.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 28 February 2002
	No.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will request that evidence submitted to the "Lessons Learned Inquiry" into Foot and Mouth is published as and when it is received, provided that those submitting evidence are content for this to happen.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This is a matter for the Chairman of the Lessons Learned Inquiry.

Recycling

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the contribution to meeting the Government's recycling targets to date of the PFI credits announced in the last comprehensive spending review.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Spending Review 2000 allocated £220 million of PFI credits for local authorities waste projects (£50 million for 2001–02, £70 million for 2002–03 and £100 million for 2003–04).
	Three projects have been approved so far for this period. The local authorities involved are East London waste authority, Leicester city council and a joint project for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. The outputs in the approved outline business cases for these three projects are to achieve a minimum of 25 per cent. recycling rate of household waste by 2005, in line with the national target published in Waste Strategy 2000.
	We published revised criteria for waste PFI schemes in September 2000. These make clear the central place of recycling in PFI proposals. Where proposals include incineration, they must demonstrate that all opportunities for recycling have been considered first and that there is no barrier to the future development of recycling.

Waste Disposal

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much UK waste was disposed of, in million of tonnes in each year from 1998 to 2001 by (a) landfill, (b) recycling, (c) energy recovery, (d) other recovery and (e) other disposal.

Michael Meacher: It is estimated that in 1997–98 around 190 million tonnes of controlled waste were produced in the UK, by households, commerce and industry, including construction and demolition. Of this, it is estimated that around 58 per cent. or 111 million tonnes were disposed of to landfill, 30 per cent. or 57 million tonnes to recycling, 2 per cent. or 3 million tonnes to energy recovery, 7 per cent. or 14 million tonnes to other recovery and 2 per cent. or 5 million tonnes to other disposal. Data for later years are not available. This is a headline indicator of sustainable development for the UK, the indicator is shown in "Environment in your pocket", published by the Department in December 2001.

Ozone Depletion

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the report made to the EU Commission under the terms of paragraph 6 of Article 15 of EU Regulations 2037/2000 (29 June 2000).

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Under the terms of Article 16(6), the UK reported to the European Commission by 31 December 2001 on systems established to promote the recovery of used controlled substances, including the facilities available and the quantities of used ozone-depleting substances recovered, recycled, reclaimed or destroyed. This was achieved by defining minimum qualifications for personnel, publishing guidance on recovery and destruction, and providing details on plant capacity for volumes destroyed.
	My Department wrote to the European Commission on 18 December 2001 to define minimum qualifications. A copy of the letter and enclosures has been placed in the Library of the House. The information on destruction and capacity for destruction is commercially sensitive as there are only two facilities in place in the UK at present, so we are unable to publish it. The joint ex-DETR/ DTI guidance can be found on the DTI's website, www.dti.gov.uk/access/ozone/htm.

Emissions

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to require climate change agreement participants to move from energy efficiency targets to absolute emissions targets.

Michael Meacher: I have no plans to require climate change agreements participants to move from energy efficiency targets to absolute emissions targets.

Emissions

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is towards the proposed EU emissions trading scheme.

Michael Meacher: The Government are pleased with the Commission's interest in trading and the opportunity it offers to European business and Governments. The commission's proposal for an EU emissions trading scheme does differ in some important respects from the UK scheme, but it is just that—a proposal. Negotiations are only at an early stage and it is far from clear what the final EU scheme will look like. The Government's policy is to work with the Commission and other member states during the negotiation process to develop the best possible emissions trading scheme for the EU and that any EU scheme is compatible with or, at the very least, has sufficient flexibility for established national schemes to run their course.

Emissions

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the United Kingdom's emissions trading system with the emissions trading scheme proposed by the European Union.

Michael Meacher: The Commission launched a formal proposal for an EU Emissions Trading Scheme on 26 October 2001. There are a number of differences between the proposed EU scheme and the UK scheme which is to be launched in April. These include that the proposal requires mandatory, not voluntary participation; has limited sectoral coverage; only includes CO 2 , rather than all six greenhouse gases; includes emissions from electricity generators directly (rather than assigning emissions from power generation to the end-user of the electricity); and, has a bureaucratic rather than market- based allocation procedure. However, negotiations are only just beginning and it is far from clear what the final shape of the EU scheme will look like.

Emissions

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she intends to end the emissions trading scheme when an EU-wide scheme is introduced.

Michael Meacher: The Commission's proposal for an EU emissions trading scheme does differ from the UK scheme, but it is just that—a proposal. Negotiations are only at an early stage and it is far from clear what the final EU scheme will look like. The Government have always said they will endeavour to manage any transition to an EU scheme and to wider international trading as seamlessly as possible. The UK will work with the Commission and other member states during the negotiation process to ensure that the schemes are compatible or, at the very least, there is sufficient flexibility for established national schemes to run their course.

Climate Change

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will give (a) the targets for 2010 and (b) the biennial interim targets for each sector of industry now taking part in a climate change agreement.

Michael Meacher: The targets for 2010 and for the intervening milestone years are set out in each of the 44 sector agreements which have been placed in the Library of the House and are on the DEFRA website. The website also contains an explanatory document—Climate Change Agreements; Sectoral Energy Efficiency Targets.
	The targets are expressed in different units in the different agreements. To aid understanding the attached table presents this information in terms of percentage energy saving over the base year for that sector. The differences in magnitude of the targets reflect the differences in scope for energy efficiency measures, taking into account savings already made, and a wide range of conditions in the sector.
	
		
			   Percentage savings at each milestone (cumulative—primary energy)  
			 Sector Base year 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 
		
		
			 Aerospace—Society of British Aerospace companies(21) 2001 N/A N/A N/A N/A 8.5 
			 Aluminium 1990 27.40 29.50 30.50 31.00 32.20 
			   
			  Craft Bakers—National and Scottish Associations of Master Bakers(22) 
			 Bakeries 1999 1.5 3.5 5.0 7.0 9.0 
			 Shops  0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 
			
			 Brewers 1999 3.00 5.20 7.30 9.50 11.60 
			 Cement 1990 13.10 16.10 22.60 23.60 25.60 
			
			  Ceramics—British Ceramics Confederation  
			 Pottery 2000 2.8 8.9 10.2 11.4 12.4 
			 Heavy clay  2.2 4.7 6.4 8.9 10.22 
			 Fletton brick  0.9 2.4 4.3 6.2 8.1 
			 Refactories  3.1 4.8 5.8 8.4 10.33 
			 Cer materials  2.4 4.8 7.1 8.7 10.1 
			 Chemicals 1990 28.00 30.70 32.20 33.50 34.00 
			 Cathode Ray Tubes—National Microelectronics Institute 2000 6.20 13.20 15.90 18.60 21.00 
			 Dairy Industry 1999 4.10 6.40 7.30 8.20 9.20 
			 Egg Processing—BEIC/BEPA 1995 6.90 8.60 10.00 11.40 13.20 
			 Egg Production—British Egg Industry Council and NFU 1999 4.90 7.40 9.80 11.80 13.70 
			 Eurisol 1999 7.50 11.00 12.50 14.40 14.90 
			 Food and Drink 1995 7.80 9.70 11.60 12.70 13.80 
			 Foundries: Target 2010 2000 1.60 3.80 6.30 8.60 11.00 
			 Glass 1999 2.70 5.30 7.90 9.90 9.20 
			 Gypsum Products 2000 1.10 2.30 3.80 5.70 7.16 
			 Leather—British Leather Confederation 1999 1.90 3.90 5.90 7.90 9.81 
			 Lime 1998 6.10 6.50 6.80 7.70 7.90 
			 Maltsters Association of Great Britain 1999 1.70 3.20 4.70 6.30 7.80 
			 Poultry Meat processing—BPMF 1999 7.2 8.5 9.8 11.1 12.3 
			 British Meat Federation 1995 6.40 9.40 11.90 13.20 14.40 
			 Metal Forming—Confederation of 2000 1.40 2.80 4.20 5.60 7.00 
			 Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association 1999 4.00 5.50 7.00 8.00 9.00 
			 Motor Manufacturers—SMMT 1995 7.90 10.10 12.60 13.90 15.30 
			 Pig Rearing—NFU 1999 6.30 10.20 12.20 15.10 18.00 
			 Non-Ferrous 1998 5.50 8.20 10.00 11.40 14.70 
			 Paper 1990 29.40 33.00 36.30 38.00 40.00 
			 Poultry Rearing—NFU(23) 1999 4.30 6.80 9.70 12.70 14.70 
			 Poultry Rearing—BPMF(23) 1999 4.20 6.40 9.00 11.90 13.70 
			 Printing 2000 0.50 3.10 5.60 9.50 12.00 
			 Renderers—UK Renderers Association) 1999 1.70 3.90 5.60 7.30 9.00 
			 Rubber 1999 3.10 4.80 6.40 8.20 10.30 
			 Semiconductors—National Microelectronics Institute 2000 21.00 49.00 52.00 56.00 59.00 
			 Slag Grinders 1999 0.00 2.50 6.10 8.20 10.00 
			 Spirits 1999 0.20 1.20 2.80 3.60 4.50 
			 Steel 1997 4.90 7.60 9.50 10.50 11.50 
			
			 Supermarkets(22)   
			 Scratch bake(21) 2001 1.0 3.5 5.0 7.0 9.0 
			 Bake-off facil(21)  0.3 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 
			
			 Surface Engineering(24) 1999 2.89 5.17 7.10 8.77 10.28 
			 Textiles—British Apparel and Textile Confederation 1999 1.20 2.90 4.70 6.80 9.00 
			 UKASTA—UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association 1999 2.10 4.10 5.60 6.30 7.10 
			 Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association Ltd. 2000 2.00 6.00 7.30 8.60 10.00 
			 Wallcoverings 1999 1.56 5.97 7.42 8.18 9.00 
			 Wood Panel 1999 1.30 3.50 5.60 6.50 7.34 
		
	
	(21) Intermediate milestone targets are not yet determined.
	(22) The target for the Craft bakers and Supermarkets are in delivered energy terms.
	(23) The targets for the two poultry rearing agreements is the same in delivered energy terms so each facility is being treated equivalently. However because of the different mix of fuels between the two groups, the primary energy sector targets are different.
	(24) The targets for the SEA agreement are in delivered energy terms. The 10.28 per cent. reduction in delivered specific energy consumption to 2010 is equivalent to 12.01 per cent. in primary energy.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 275W, on asbestos, what differentiations she has made between white and blue asbestos waste, including asbestos cement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	There are hazards associated with all types of asbestos waste. We do not, therefore, distinguish between white and blue asbestos and as I said in the answer I gave on 15 January, all types of asbestos waste have been classified as special waste in Great Britain since 1996 and in Northern Ireland since 1998.

GM Crops

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the results of the genetically modified crops trials.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	We currently expect that the first results of the Farm Scale Evaluations for certain spring-sown herbicide tolerant genetically modified crops will be published in a peer reviewed scientific journal in the summer of 2003. The independent Scientific Steering Committee, which oversees the evaluations, will publish its advice to Government at the same time.

GM Crops

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many genetically modified crops were imported into the UK for the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Grain and derived products from the following genetically modified crops have approval under Directive 90/220/EEC for importation into the European Community, dating from 1996 onwards. No figures of amounts imported are available.
	
		
			  Crop  Modification  Company Consent Reference 
		
		
			 Soybean Herbicide tolerant Monsanto C/GB/94/M3/1 
			 Oilseed rape Herbicide tolerant Aventis C/GB/95/M5/1 
			 Maize Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant Northrup King C/GB/96/M4/1 
			 Maize Insect resistant and herbicide tolerant Ciba-Geigy C/F/94/11–03 
			 Maize Insect resistance Monsanto C/F/95/12/02 
			 Maize Herbicide tolerance Aventis C/F/95/12/07

GM Crops

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards growing genetically modified crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Government have an open mind about genetically modified (GM) crops. Our first priority is to protect human health and the environment. No GM crop can be grown in the environment for research or commercial purposes without prior assessment and approval in compliance with the European union regulatory regimes.
	In addition, the Farm Scale Evaluation research programme will provide information about the effect, that the management practices associated with GM herbicide tolerant crops might have on farmland wildlife, when compared with weed control used with equivalent non-GM crops. There will be no commercial growing of GM crops until the evaluations are completed and only then if the crops and associated farming practices are assessed as causing no unacceptable impact on the environment. The results of the evaluations will enable a more informed decision to be taken about the possible use of this technology.

Inland Rivers

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 648W, how much additional access to white water inland rivers the report Water-based Sport and Recreation estimates is necessary; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The report identified an imbalance between supply of and demand for white water for canoeists, particularly in south-east England. The report did not identify how much additional access was needed.
	Officials recently met the other sponsors of the research (British Waterways, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Sport England) and other interested Government Departments and we are considering what action to take in the light of the report's findings.

Deregulation

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on deregulation in the agriculture industry; and if she will list the regulations removed since May 1997.

Elliot Morley: The Department implements the Government's policy on better regulation. This is regulating only when necessary, doing so in a light touch way, consistent with policy objectives, and reducing regulatory burdens where possible.
	Regulatory reform can included changes to primary and secondary legislation and administrative procedures. The process was started through implementation of the recommendations of the 1999 Red Tape Reviews and the Better Regulation Task Force's Review of Environmental Regulations and Farmers. This has led to the streamlining of processes and procedures for example by implementing a simplified procedure for granting "own-use" approvals for imports of pesticides with a reduced fee, by streamlining intervention procedures, and by better co-ordinated cattle inspections. The Government's Regulatory Reform Action Plan announced on 4 February contains further proposals for reform by the Department.
	The Department does not hold a comprehensive list of deregulatory changes made since 1997. However, in the last two months the Department has achieved the removal of complex rules applying to sheep produced groups and their replacement by simpler general rules as part of the changes to the CAP sheep regime agreed at the December 2001 Agriculture Council, and the removal of a requirement in Commission regulations on arable crops for testing of farm-saved rapeseed for glucosinolate content, estimated to result in savings to farmers of about £1 million. The Regulatory Reform Action Plan provides a basis for recording all such changes systematically from now on.

Waste Disposal (Electrical Equipment)

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive on the amount of waste electrical goods illegally abandoned in public places.

Michael Meacher: The Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is still in draft. We are currently at Common Position stage, and for this reason we have not yet made any such assessment.
	The Directive requires distributors to take back waste electrical goods free of charge to the end user. This take- back provision may be in-store, on delivery or through an alternative arrangement, eg. curbside collection. Furthermore, the Directive requires member states to ensure that users are given necessary information about the return and collection systems available to them and about their role in contributing to re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE.
	We therefore believe that the Directive will make a positive contribution to increasing the amount of waste electrical goods recovered and recycled and we see no reason to anticipate an increase in the illegal abandoning of WEEE in public places.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental E-mail

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards meeting his pledge that all central Government should be contactable electronically by 2005; which (a) Ministers and (b) members of the Cabinet are contactable by the public via e-mail; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The latest figures on progress towards the target of making Government services available electronically by 2005 show that over 50 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now. In addition, Departments predict that three-quarters of services will be e-enabled by the end of 2002.
	The Guidelines for UK Government websites encourage individual departmental websites to list Ministers and their responsibilities, and to publish contact addresses, that is, a full postal address as well as an e-mail address.

Departmental Policies (Bristol, East)

Jean Corston: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions (a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998.

Barbara Roche: The following tables provide key data for Bristol from 1997 to 1998 and from 1998 to date. Limited data are available, given changes in methodologies within the period. The information requested prior to 1997 is not held centrally, nor in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Statistic 1997 1998 Change 
		
		
			  Education (Bristol Local Education Authority) 
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 5+A*-C GCSE/GNVQ(25) 32.1 per cent. 29 per cent. -3.1 percentage points 
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 plus at Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds) English(26) 54 per cent. 55 per cent. 1 percentage point 
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 plus at Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds) mathematics(27) 52 per cent. 47 per cent. -5 percentage points 
			 Infants in class sizes of more than 30(28) 3,708 (January) 3,770 (January) 62 pupil increase 
			 Funding per pupil (in real terms)(29) £2,700 £2,750 £50 real terms increase 
			 
			  Welfare to Work (Bristol Unitary Authority) 
			 Number of adults in employment(30) 171,000 (May) 182,000 (May) 11,000 (6.4 per cent.) 
			 Percentage of working age people in employment(31) 68.9 per cent. (May) 72 per cent. (May) 3.1 percentage points 
			 Claimant count unemployed(32) 13,269 (May) 9,851 (May) -3,418 (-25.8 per cent.) 
			 Youth unemployment (18–24 claimant count)(33) 3,033 (May) 2,303 (May) -730 (-24.1 per cent.) 
			 
			 Health (Avon Health Authority)
			 Number of doctors(34) 2,169 2,326 157 (7.2 per cent.) 
			 Qualified nurses(35) 8,260 (September 1997) 6,679 (September 1998) -581 (-7 per cent.) 
			 Inpatient waiting lists(36) 23,104 (March 1997) — — 
			 Outpatients seen within 13 weeks(37) Robust data not available 76 per cent. (June 1998) — 
		
	
	(25),(26),(27),(28)DfES published statistics (taken from DfES Internet site)
	(29) DfES held statistics obtained through policy officials for use in ministerial briefing
	(30),(31),(32),(33)NOMIS database (Office for National Statistics)
	(34) DoH statistic obtained through policy officials for use in ministerial briefing
	(35),(36),(37)DoH statistics from Avon health authority briefing
	
		
			 Statistic 1998 Latest 
		
		
			 Education (Bristol Local Education Authority)   
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 5+A*-C GCSE/GNVQ(38) 29 per cent. 31.8 per cent. (2001) 
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 plus at Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds) English(39) 55 per cent. 65.5 per cent. (2001) 
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 plus at Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds) mathematics(40) 47 per cent. 61.6 per cent. (2001) 
			 Infants in class sizes of more than 30(41) 3.770 (January) Zero (September 2001) 
			 Funding per pupil (in real terms)(42) £2,750 £3,290 (2001—provisional) 
			
			 Welfare to work (Bristol Unitary Authority)   
			 Number of adults in employment(43) 182,000 (May) 205,000 (November 2001) 
			 Percentage of working age people in employment(44) 72 per cent. (May) 78.2 per cent. (November 2001) 
			 Claimant count unemployed(45) 9,851 (May) 6,266 (December 2001) 
			 Youth unemployment (18–24 claimant count)(46) 2,303 (May) 1,502 (December 2001) 
			
			 Health (Avon Health Authority)   
			 Number of doctors(47) 2,326 2,508 (2001) 
			 Qualified nurses(48) 7,679 (September) 7,569 (September 2000) 
			 Inpatient waiting lists(49) — 21,492 (September 2001) 
			 Outpatients seen within 13 weeks(50) 76 per cent. (June) 80 per cent. (September 2001) 
		
	
	(38),(39),(40),(41)DfES published statistics (taken from DfES Internet site)
	(42) DfES held statistics obtained through policy officials for use in ministerial briefing
	(43),(44),(45),(46)Publicly available through NOMIS database—(Office for National Statistics)
	(47) DoH statistic obtained through policy officials for use in ministerial briefing
	(48),(49),(50)DoH statistics from Avon Health Authority briefing (available through the Government Knowledge Network)

Ministerial Meetings

John Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has had with representatives of the (a) British Wind Energy Association, (b) oil and gas industry, (c) Association of Sea Fisheries Committees and (d) Shellfish Association of Great Britain since October 2001.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
	Lord Macdonald has not had meetings in his capacity as Chancellor of the Duchy with any of the bodies named since October 2001.

Ministerial Meetings

John Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has had with conservation bodies since October 2001.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
	Lord Macdonald has not had any meetings with conservation bodies in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Duchy. However, Duchy surveyors regularly meet representatives from a wide section of conservation and environmental bodies and groups as part of their management of the Duchy estates.

Marine Wildlife Conservation Bill

John Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has received with regard to the regulatory impact of the Marine Wildlife Conservation Bill.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
	Lord Macdonald has not received any representations in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with regard to the regulatory impact of the Marine Wildlife Conservation Bill.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

South London Metro

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when work will begin on the creation of the integrated South London Metro Commuter Network.

David Jamieson: Work is proceeding to identify a phased programme, co-ordinated with franchise replacement, for implementation of the London Metro concept. A Steering Group, chaired by the Strategic Rail Authority, comprising the key stakeholders, including Transport for London, Railtrack, the Train Operating Companies, local authority and passengers representatives has been meeting regularly to take forward implementation.

Rail Safety

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many employees of railway companies and their contractors held certificates to (a) work on the track, (b) supervise others working on the track and (c) train people to work on the track in each year since 1990.

David Jamieson: My Department does not hold such information.

Red Route System

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the mileage in use within Greater London of the red route system.

Sally Keeble: This is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. However, I understand that the length of the red route network currently in use is some 515km. Further information may be obtained from:
	Peter Heather
	The Assistant Director of Street Management Services:
	TfL Street Management
	Windsor House
	42–50 Victoria Street
	London
	SW1H OTL.

Council Houses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new council houses have been (a) built since 1997 and (b) brought out of disrepair and are now available.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 26 February 2002
	The figures for the number of council dwellings built since April 1997 are given in the table.
	
		Local authority new building: England
		
			  Number of dwellings 
		
		
			 1997–98 323 
			 1998–99 194 
			 1999–2000 102 
			 2000–01 717 
		
	
	Figures are not held centrally on the number of council dwellings in disrepair in 1997 which have now been brought out of disrepair. However, we are committed to improving the condition of social housing. In July 2000, the Government set targets to ensure that all social housing meets set standards of decency by 2010 and reducing the number of households living in social housing below these standards by a third between 2001 and 2004. Most of this reduction will take place in deprived areas. We currently estimate that we are on track to meet the 2004 target which should mean 550,000 more units of social housing of a decent standard by 2004.

Public-Private Partnerships

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which companies that have been involved in public-private partnerships with his Department have become insolvent since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: None of the companies that have been involved in public-private partnerships with the Department have become insolvent since 1997.

Rural Exception Sites Policy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the operation of the rural exception sites policy.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 26 February 2002
	National policy on rural exception sites is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing and my Department's circular 06/98: Planning and Affordable Housing. It allows local planning authorities to adopt rural exception policies for the release of sites for small-scale residential development within or adjoining existing villages where planning permission would not otherwise be given. Under the rural exception policy an authority must be satisfied that any application to build housing would meet a local need not being achieved through existing plan policies, and that it could remain as affordable housing to meet local needs in perpetuity.

Registered Social Landlords

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what duty of care is required for members of the boards of registered social landlords when undertaking investment decisions; and what the consequences are of failure to meet this duty.

Sally Keeble: Members of the boards of registered social landlords (RSLs) have the same fiduciary duty to the RSL as any company director and, if the RSL is a charity, the same duty as any other charity trustee. The consequences of failing to meet their duties will also be the same.
	The Housing Corporation, as regulator of RSLs, lays down in its Regulatory Code the fundamental obligations it expects RSLs to meet: that they must be viable, well- governed and well-managed. RSLs' governing bodies are expected to provide leadership and control and, among other things, to protect public investment in the sector. Where an RSL falls short of its obligations, the corporation has statutory powers to take action.

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 249W, on reputational externalities, if the concept of reputational externalities was used as an element of the financial analyses of the London Underground PPP final assessment; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Details of the financial analysis behind the value for money appraisal of the bids for the tube modernisation contracts are given in the final assessment report produced by London Underground. This is available on London Underground's website.

Residential Dwellings (St. Helens, South)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of residential dwellings are vacant in St. Helens, South including (a) privately rented, (b) owner occupied, (c) council rented or (d) housing association.

Sally Keeble: 4.8 per cent. of all residential dwellings in St. Helens, South are vacant. Of this, 1 per cent. is within the council's stock, with the remaining 3.8 per cent. made up of owner occupiers, Registered Social Landlords, and the private rented sector.
	Note—information on vacant property that differentiates between owner occupiers, Registered Social Landlords and private rented sector is not available.

Equipment Leasing

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list by local authority the level of (a) rent and (b) council tax arrears in each year since 1992 in England and Wales.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 27 February 2002
	On rent arrears, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 979W to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane), which provided information on rent arrears by local authority in England.
	On council tax arrears, central Government do not collect information on the level of council tax arrears in England. However, estimates are available from 1 April 1995 on the total amount of council tax arrears in England. This information is given in the table.
	
		£ billion 
		
			  Estimated amount of council tax arrears for England 
		
		
			 1 April 1995 0.8 
			 1 April 1996 1.1 
			 1 April 1997 1.1 
			 1 April 1998 1.1 
			 1 April 1999 1.2 
			 1 April 2000 1.2 
			 1 April 2001 1.4 
		
	
	The council tax was introduced on 1 April 1993 as a replacement for the community charge (or poll tax).Requests for information about rent arrears and council tax arrears in Wales should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers the Health and Safety Executive has in relation to withdrawing the safety cases for the London Underground PPP under the (a) Greater London Authority Act 1999, (b) Transport Act 2000 and (c) contracts between London Underground (and Transport for London when transferred) and the Infracos; and what implications this has for the ability of London Underground (and Transport for London when transferred) to (i) change or (ii) withdraw the Infraco contracts.

David Jamieson: None. The relevant powers of the Health and Safety Executive are in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000, on which guidance is published by and available from HSE. HSE assesses and considers safety cases for acceptance. It can require London Underground to revise its safety case and submit the revision for assessment.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has regarding the placing of the Infracos on the London Underground into administration under (a) the Greater London Authority Act 1999, (b) the Transport Act 2000 and (c) the contracts with the Infracos for the London Underground PPP.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to Section 221 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what the (a) nature and (b) length of leases of (i) real estate, (ii) property and (iii) premises on the London Underground which (A) have taken place and (B) are due to take place under the London Underground PPP;
	(2)  what his Department's definition is of (a) premises, (b) real estate and (c) property on the London Underground, listing in each case the type and number of assets.

David Jamieson: The establishment in April 2000 of the infrastructure companies, which are subsidiaries of London Underground Limited, enabled shadow running of the proposed arrangements which would operate under the PPP. The infrastructure companies have the benefit of such leases of infrastructure as are appropriate and necessary in order for the infrastructure companies to perform their contracts with London Underground Limited. Ensuring the necessary arrangements are in place is a matter for London Underground Limited and the infrastructure companies.
	The leases give the infrastructure companies sufficient interest in the infrastructure to enable them to carry out their obligations under the contracts. The freehold remains with London Underground Limited. London Underground Limited has the benefit of a sub-lease, reflecting its role as operator of the network.
	If London Underground Limited enters into the proposed PPP arrangements, the infrastructure companies' interest in the leases will remain with those companies.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes there have been to the final contracts with the Infracos on the London Underground PPP, regarding (a) the level of financial allowance for safety critical work and (b) contractual safety cases.

David Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for the development of PPP contracts for the modernisation of the underground's infrastructure. I understand that the contracts require the infrastructure companies to comply with a contractual safety case, and to finance up to £50 million of safety changes and qualifying law changes in any contract year. That compares to the previously proposed level of £200 million per seven and a half year review period (around £26 million per year).

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when assessments made by (a) his Department, (b) the Treasury, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) London Underground Limited, (e) the Mayor of London and Transport for London and (f) the Health and Safety Executive of (i) value for money and (ii) safety of the contracts tendered by bidders Metronet and Tube Lines wishing to enter into a public-private partnership with London Underground Limited were (1) concluded, (2) published and (3) made available for further consultation.

David Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for implementation of the proposals for a public private partnership to modernise its infrastructure. It published on 7 February the assessment report considered by the London Transport Board, which considers, among other things, both value for money and safety. The report was sent on the same day to the Mayor and Transport for London, along with a wide range of other information, as part of the statutory duty of consultation and co-operation.
	The Secretary of State commissioned Ernst and Young to carry out an independent review of London Underground's value for money analysis for him. This was completed before the LT Board meeting on 7 February and published on that day.
	The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for regulation of London Underground in relation to safety, including acceptance of London Underground's statutory safety case.
	Assessments made by the Mayor and Transport for London are a matter for them.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those assets transferred to the Shadow Infracos on the London Underground; and the date on which the transfers took place.

David Jamieson: Assets were transferred by statutory transfer scheme from London Underground Limited to the infrastructure companies BVC Limited, SSL Limited, and JNP Limited, which are subsidiaries of London Underground Limited, in April 2000. The establishment of the infrastructure companies and subsequent transfers took place in order to enable shadow running of the proposed arrangements which would operate under the PPP. The transfer schemes transferred such property, rights and liabilities as were appropriate and necessary in order for the infrastructure companies to perform their contracts with London Underground Limited.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what level of performance under the performance measurement code is required by the contracts for the London Underground PPP with Infracos for (a) each Infraco and (b) each line; what penalties will be imposed upon Infracos for failure to meet these performance targets; and if he will place in the Library copies of related documentation prepared (i) for and (ii) by his Department;
	(2)  what the performance measurement code is for the London Underground Infracos under the PPP; if he will place copies of related documentation prepared (a) for and (b) by his Department in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for the PPP contracts for the modernisation of the Underground's infrastructure. I understand that the Performance Measurement Code sets out how the performance of each of the three infrastructure companies will be monitored and measured. It does not specify the level of performance required or the bonuses and penalties to be imposed for better or worse levels of performance, which are set out in schedules to the PPP service contracts. I understand that London Underground intends to make the contractual documentation publicly available following completion of the competitions.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library the contracts tendered by bidders Metronet and Tube Lines wishing to enter into a public private partnership with London Underground Ltd.

David Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for the development of the PPP contracts for the modernisation of the Underground's infrastructure. I understand that London Underground intends to make the contractual documentation publicly available following completion of the competitions.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes there have been in the last six months to the final contracts with the Infracos for the London Underground PPP concerning with whom the responsibility for cost overrun will lie; if he will state with whom the responsibility for cost overrun will lie under the contracts with the Infracos for the London Underground PPP; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The PPP plans will require three private sector infrastructure companies to carry out work to modernise and maintain the infrastructure of the underground. These infrastructure companies will be responsible for ensuring that they meet their contractual obligations on time and on budget, and they will bear the risk of any cost overruns that result from their own inefficient or uneconomic behaviour. This principle has not been changed in the last six months.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisations and individuals must be consulted regarding the contracts tendered by bidders wishing to enter into a public-private partnership with London Underground Ltd.; and what the length of time required for consultation to take place is as defined in (a) the Greater London Authority Act 1999, (b) the Transport Act 2000 and (c) subsequent decisions made by (i) his Department and (ii) London Transport.

David Jamieson: Section 298 of the GLA Act imposes a duty on the Mayor, London Regional Transport and Transport for London to consult and co-operate with each other for the purpose of, among other things, facilitating the securing and carrying into effect of PPP agreements for London Underground. The Act does not specify the length of time required for consultation. I understand that London Regional Transport considers that the current consultation time scale is realistic, reasonable and in compliance with its statutory obligations.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the conditions precedent, as referred to at http://www.railways.dtlr.gov.uk/lunderground/factsheets/ safety/inde x.htm and as published by his Department on 11 February, that must be satisfied by London Transport before contracts are signed on the London Underground PPP; what timetable these must be satisfied by; and whether his Department must also accept these conditions precedent before final signing of the contracts.

David Jamieson: The London Transport Board is expected to decide in March whether to enter into the proposed PPP contracts to modernise London Underground's infrastructure. If they decide to proceed, London Underground Ltd. will sign agreed contract terms with the bidders. They will sign on the basis that, before the agreements can come into effect, a number of conditions ("conditions precedent") must be fulfilled. These may relate to issues such as financing and regulatory consents, as well as acceptance of the safety case. The details of the conditions precedent themselves, like other contract terms, are a matter for London Underground Ltd. and the bidders.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many and what type of specific improvements are expected under the contracts of the first 7.5 years of the London Underground PPP in terms of (a) track improvement, (b) signals, (c) trains and (d) other infrastructure (i) in total, (ii) for each infraco and (iii) for each line.

David Jamieson: London Transport's plans for modernisation of the tube are designed to deliver a comprehensive upgrade of the whole network as quickly and efficiently as possible. London Transport is currently consulting the Mayor and Transport for London on the plans following its announcement on 7 February that it is minded to proceed. I understand that London Underground intends to make the contractual documentation publicly available following completion of the competitions.

London Underground

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what definition of privatisation (a) is used by his Department as standard and (b) has been referred to in documentation published by his Department relating to the PPP of London Underground since 7 June 2001; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on 7 February 2002 Official Report, columns 1126–47.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list changes to the Gateway process for major Government construction projects arising from consideration of Jubilee line extension project reports; whether these will apply to construction projects undertaken by private sector infrastructure companies involved in the public-private partnership for the London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Deputy Prime Minister asked Peter Gershon of the Office of Government Commerce to consider the July 2000 Ove Arup "end of commission" Jubilee line extension report in the light of his own report on best practice for central Government procurement. Mr. Gershon concluded that the report reinforced his views that large, high risk projects should be subject to a Gateway process to test viability, approve procurement methods, etc. Following a number of successful pilot exercises, the Gateway technique was formally extended to all large, high risk Government procurement projects.
	Under the PPP plans for the modernisation of London Underground three private sector companies will be contracted to carry out work to modernise and maintain the underground's infrastructure. These companies will be responsible for the project management of the work. I understand that each intends to follow a form of Gateway procedure.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish the result of the study by Westminster University commissioned by his Department and Transport for London into the economic impact of the Jubilee Line Extension project; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Jubilee line extension impact study report is expected to be published jointly by Transport for London and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in the spring of next year.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish his Department's review of its oversight of the Jubilee line extension project; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Officials have been studying the Department's oversight of the way in which the Jubilee line extension project was carried out, with a view to providing advice to Ministers on lessons learned for the Government's role. This work is continuing and its conclusions will be submitted to Ministers. The Secretary of State's agent, Ove Arup, produced an end of commission report on the JLE project. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Railway Industry

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the members and/organisations, companies and individuals represented on the Health and Safety Commission Railway Industry Advisory Committee; what the frequency of meetings of the RIAC is; and what recommendations have been (a) made and (b) implemented as an outcome of the meetings and discussions which have taken place.

David Jamieson: The current membership of the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Railway Industry Advisory Committee (RIAC) is as follows:
	Margaret Burns—Chair (a member of the HSC)
	John Cartledge—London Transport Users Committee, Rail Passengers Council
	David Heseldin—Rail Passengers Council
	Vernon Hince, Phil Dee—RMT
	Mick Rix, Dave Bennett—ASLEF
	John Allen, Alan Tipping—TSSA
	Paul Reuter—Amicus (formerly AEEU)
	Aidan Nelson—Railway Safety (also chair of RIAC's Human Factors working group)
	Chris Leah—Railtrack plc (in railway administration)
	Richard Gostling—Railway Industry Association
	Terry Worrall—Association of Train Operating Companies (employed by Thames Trains)
	Paul Abbott—Railtrack plc (in railway administration) (also chairman of RIAC's Freight working group)
	Allen Baker—Rolling Stock Companies (employed by Angel Train Contracts)
	David Madden—Heritage Railway Association
	Mike Strzelecki—London Underground Ltd.
	Andrew Steel—Light Rail representative (employed by Stagecoach Supertram).
	The Strategic Rail Authority, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the DTLR have observer status. This is being extended to include the Northern Ireland Department of Regional Development. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides secretariat support to RIAC, and is also currently represented at meetings by two senior officials. RIAC normally meets quarterly.
	RIAC's activities prior to April 2001 were reported in successive editions of the Chief Inspector of Railways' Annual Report, copies of which are in the House Library. Since April 2001, RIAC has considered and provided the HSC with advice on aspects of all the recent public inquiry reports. Following a review of RIAC and the recommendations of Lord Cullen's public inquiry, its role was refocused in November 2001 to provide strategic advice to the HSC. Hence, at its most recent meeting in January 2002, RIAC considered HSE's draft railway regulatory strategy, and a negotiating strategy for the draft railway safety directive, both of which have subsequently been agreed by the HSC.

Business Contacts

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how his Department define the terms (a) independent advice, (b) independent assessment and (c) independent report when (i) awarding contracts for research and (ii) referring to written documentation published for his Department by outside organisations and bodies.

David Jamieson: My Department seeks and commissions advice from all types of academics, consultants, committees and other public and private sector enterprises. That advice gives rise to reports, independent of the Department's own view, which may be published by the organisation or by the Department.

Research Documents

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list (a) published documentation and (b) unpublished written reports or other documentation which have resulted from research or other contracts awarded since (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) 1 January 2001 by (A) his Department and (B) the Health and Safety Executive to (1) Balfour Beatty plc, (2) Bombardier Transportation (formerly Adtranz), (3) WS Atkins plc, (4) Amey/Amec, (5) Bechtel-Halcrow, (6) Jarvis and (7) AEA Technology; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 813W. Information about my Department's research and other contracts is made widely available through publications, websites and events. The exceptions to this policy are work-related to national security or which involve issues of commercial confidentiality. HSE research reports are published in full and free of charge on their website.
	The range of expertise of the firms identified is such that they may be commissioned by many areas of my Department. The information requested is not recorded centrally and would require searches throughout the Department, at disproportionate cost.

SSA (Surrey)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the initial assessment of SSA and grant finance to local authorities in the case of district councils in Surrey.

Alan Whitehead: The 2002–03 local government finance settlement meant that, taken as a whole, district councils in Surrey received a grant increase of £2.75 million (2.3 per cent.) which translates into an SSA increase of £3.67 million (3.7 per cent.) All of these authorities benefited from our guarantee that districts would get grant increases of at least the rate of inflation.

Highways Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money the Highways Agency has spent on maintenance of main roads in each of the past 10 years.

David Jamieson: During the last 10 years the Highways Agency and its predecessor organisations have spent the following amounts on maintenance of motorways and trunk roads:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1991–92 482 
			 1992–93 539 
			 1993–94 584 
			 1994–95 595 
			 1995–96 488 
			 1996–97 428 
			 1997–98 499 
			 1998–99 638 
			 1999–2000 726 
			 2000–01 722

Highways Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much additional public sector investment the Highways Agency will make during the period of the 10 Year Plan over and above spending on routine maintenance.

David Jamieson: The 10-year Plan for Transport provided for expenditure of £22.5 billion. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 Investment  
			 Major schemes over £5 million 7.2 
			 Expenditure on small scale improvements to the network 3.3 
			 Structural maintenance—renewal of carriageways and bridges 4.3 
			  
			 Sub total 14.8 
			   
			 Payments to the private sector for privately financed investment 3.9 
			   
			 Other  
			 HA Administration 1.0 
			 Routine and winter maintenance 2.8 
			  
			 Sub total 3.8 
			  
			 Total 10-year plan funding 22.5

Travel Concessions Eligibility Bill

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of local authorities he estimates will be fully funded for the cost of implementing the Travel Concessions Eligibility Bill; and which local authorities he estimates will not be fully compensated for the cost.

Sally Keeble: The Government will take into account in setting the spending totals in the Spending Review the additional cost on local government overall of the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002. Provision will be included in the 2003–04 general grant for local authorities, and it will be for councils to decide their spending priorities in the light of their responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. It is not possible to identify provision for a particular responsibility within general grant, and the grant for individual councils will not, in any case, be available until the provisional local government finance settlement is announced at the end of the year.

National Transport Model

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 800W, ref 36609, when this model will be completed; and whether there are funds allocated in the 10-year Plan budget which will enable projects to be restructured if the modelling reveals flaws in the initial analysis for the plan.

David Jamieson: A preliminary version of our enhanced National Transport Model is under test at present. As part of the review of the 10-year Plan, expected to be completed this summer, the enhanced version will be used to provide revised forecasts for the impacts of the plan, although the model itself is subject to constant review.
	The 10-year Plan provides an investment framework with indicative funding allocations, with some unallocated moneys in later plan years. This allows flexibility for later years. Projects will emerge from multi-modal studies, from the business plans of the Strategic Rail Authority and Highways Agency, and the Local Transport Plan bids of local authorities, and will be subject to detailed appraisal as appropriate.

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the advice received from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors concerning marriage value and leasehold enfranchisement.

Sally Keeble: I understand that, by this, the hon. Member for Torbay wished to know whether we would make public the views expressed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in response to consultation on the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. All responses to the consultation paper—with the exception of those who asked for their responses to be treated as confidential—are available to the public. The response from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is among them. Copies can be inspected by visiting my Department's library at Ashdown House. Appointments are not necessary, but we would advise visitors to contact the library in advance on 020 7944 6107 to avoid unnecessary delays.

Homelessness

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what statutory powers he has to ensure local authorities meet their statutory duty to house the homeless.

Sally Keeble: Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value) imposes a general duty on local authorities to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which their functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Section 15 of the 1999 Act provides the Secretary of State with a wide range of intervention powers to secure an authority's compliance with part 1. For example, he may direct the local authority to carry out a review of the function or to contract out the function. The Secretary of State also has the power, in cases of serious failure, to assume responsibility for a function and nominate a person to undertake it on his behalf.

Homelessness

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he determines if a local authority is meeting its statutory duty to house the homeless.

Sally Keeble: The Housing Inspectorate, part of the Audit Commission's Inspection Service undertakes scrutiny of local authorities' housing functions, including their statutory homelessness duties. The Minister for Housing and Planning is notified by the Chief Inspector of Housing of any inspection which concludes that a service is poor, and the Secretary of State has intervention powers which he can use if he is satisfied that the authority is not complying with its statutory best value responsibilities. For the years 2001–01 and 2001–02 local authorities were required to assess their performance against Best Value Performance Indicator 67, the proportion of homelessness applications decided upon within 33 working days. Local authorities are also encouraged to set appropriate local performance indicators.
	The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions also collects, monitors and publishes at quarterly intervals data about local housing authorities activities under the homelessness legislation. Among other things, this indicates the numbers of applicants accepted by individual authorities as statutorily homeless and the number of households being accommodated under the legislative provisions.
	The Homelessness Act 2002 includes provisions which will require local housing authorities to carry out a homelessness review in their district and to formulate a homelessness strategy based on the review. The new Homelessness Directorate being established within DTLR will monitor the development and progress of these reviews and strategies.

Accident Black Spots

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he proposes to take about the worst 10 accident black spots on the trunk and primary route network, with particular reference to the A5 from the A45 to the A428 in the Daventry constituency; and if he will discuss these accident black spots with the Automobile Association.

David Jamieson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 4 March 2002
	The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the worst 10 accident black spots on the trunk and primary route network and in particular, on the A5 in the Daventry constituency.
	Safety is a high priority for the Highways Agency and we welcome the initiative that the AA has recently taken in alerting drivers to the need to take care when using the strategic road network. The Agency's network is one of the safest in the world and, since 1998, the number of those killed and seriously injured on these roads has been reduced by more than 400. However, there is no room for complacency. The Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport sets a target for measures to be taken to further reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the strategic road network by a third by 2010, with a 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate.
	We are aware of the safety issues highlighted by the AA and, on certain stretches of the trunk road network we have taken, or are planning, steps to improve them. We are delivering 100 small improvement schemes, half of which are aimed specifically at improving safety at locations on the trunk road network, in addition to the programme of major improvements, eight of which are expected to be completed by March 2003. We have regular meetings with the AA and other representative road user groups at which these issues are discussed.
	The AA identified the A5 between Daventry and Rugby as the 11th most dangerous route in Britain. Since 1999, when data for the AA's survey was collected, a safety scheme between Kilsby and Weedon has been completed. This involved providing improved signing and road markings and the introduction of a Police speed check area. Accident data from January 2000 to August 2001 shows that there has been a noticeable reduction and, although it is still too early to fully assess this reduction, early indications are encouraging. In addition, we propose to install speed cameras in the Watford Gap area and that the speed limit there be reduced to 50 mph.

Autism

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if members of the Disabled Person's Transport Advisory Committee have expertise in autism spectrum disorders.

Sally Keeble: Members of the committee are appointed on the basis of their personal transport and disability experience. They do not represent any particular organisation or interest group. We expect the committee to take account of the needs of the widest range of disabled people in formulating their advice to Ministers.
	The committee can also benefit from the expertise of one member of the secretariat who has family experience of autism spectrum disorders.

Autism

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to what extent the revised Blue Badge Scheme for Disabled People takes account of the serious mobility impairment of people with autistic spectrum disorders through their behavioural difficulties and inability to perceive danger.

Sally Keeble: The current review of the Blue Badge Scheme will consider all aspects of the Scheme, including the eligibility criteria, administration and enforcement. Formal representations have been made by the National Autistic Society and their views will be given due consideration during the review process.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, columns 986–87W, on asbestos, if the handling of asbestos cement will be limited to licensed contractors after the regulations come into operation.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	No. There are no plans to require work with asbestos cement to be in any way limited to contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 987W, on asbestos, who commissioned the (a) 1985 Doll and Peto paper and (b) 2000 Hodgson and Darnton paper; and on what basis their reports may be deemed to be independent.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The 1985 report by Professors Doll and Peto was commissioned in 1982 by the Health and Safety Commission. Both individuals are highly respected academic epidemiologists, chosen for this task on the basis of their expertise in the subject matter. The paper by Hodgson and Darnton, was prepared as part of their day-to-day work in the HSE. Drafts of the paper were seen and reviewed by a number of external experts before it was submitted for publication, and again by peer reviewers selected by the Annals of Occupational Hygiene before its publication in this journal. Copies of the report and paper are in the Libraries of the House.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 986W, on asbestos, if he will give a breakdown of the 2000–01 prosecution figures differentiating between white and blue asbestos.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 986W, on asbestos, which explained that the system for recording prosecutions does not differentiate between the different types of asbestos.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 986W, on asbestos, if he will give a breakdown of his estimate of the compliance cost of the proposed new duty to manage the risk from asbestos to include the (a) cost of replacement materials, (b) devaluation of property, (c) premature demolition of property affected, (d) cost of collection and disposal of asbestos cement, (e) replacement of blue asbestos water pipes and (f) legal costs.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Health and Safety Executive included the cost of the replacement materials in the estimated removal costs provided with the consultation document. The cost of replacement materials varies by type and location of asbestos. The research the Executive commissioned for the proposals indicates that reinstatement costs could be in the region of 35–45 per cent. of the calculated removal costs. On this basis total reinstatement costs would be between £230 million and £290 million for the asbestos that is actually removed as a result of the proposals. These reinstatement costs include labour costs. These costs were included in the original overall cost estimates.
	The Health and Safety Executive do not believe there will be any significant devaluation of property values following reinstatement if asbestos is removed or adequate management of asbestos remaining in place. Any on-going management costs are expected to be only a small fraction of annual building maintenance costs.
	The Health and Safety Executive do not expect these proposals in themselves to result in any premature demolition. Other factors, such as the overall desirability of the property, are likely to play a more significant role in any decision to demolish. Under existing legislation, an asbestos survey has to be undertaken and asbestos has to be removed under controlled conditions before a building is demolished.
	It is not possible to breakdown any cost by type of asbestos.
	Information on legal costs is not available.

Asbestos

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the anticipated costs are of removing all blue and brown asbestos from domestic properties.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	There are no plans to require the removal of blue and brown asbestos from domestic properties so it has not been costed. It is safer to leave asbestos in place if it is not going to be damaged or disturbed.

Asbestos

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the anticipated cost is of removing all white asbestos from domestic properties.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	There are no plans to require the removal of white asbestos from domestic premises so it has not been costed. It is safer to leave asbestos in place if it is not going to be damaged or disturbed.

Asbestos

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he plans to ban sales of domestic property containing blue, brown or white asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	There are no such plans. Our proposals for seller's packs will help raise home buyers' awareness. The seller's pack will include a home condition report which will disclose the presence of asbestos where it is a safety hazard and is apparent from a visual inspection of the property.
	The Health and Safety Executive does not call for asbestos to be removed if it is in good condition and is not going to be disturbed. In those circumstances, it is safer to leave undamaged asbestos in place, and this is what the Health and Safety Executive recommends.

Pilotage Exemption Certificates

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will impose a national standard for the issue of pilotage exemption certificates.

David Jamieson: The Pilotage Act 1987 assigns to competent harbour authorities the responsibility for deciding the qualifications required of applicants for pilotage exemption certificates. They have to consider skill, experience and local knowledge and, where appropriate, knowledge of English. We have no plans to change this. However, we have proposed to develop with the ports industry guidelines on the way this task might be undertaken: our aim is to assist authorities with advice on agreed industry practice. These guidelines would support the Port Marine Safety Code.

Pilotage Exemption Certificates

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many pilotage exemption certificates have been issued on the Humber in the last year.

David Jamieson: The issue of pilotage exemption certificates is a matter for the competent harbour authority. I understand from the authority for the Humber that 40 new pilotage exemption certificates were issued in 2001, compared with 35 in 2000. These are the latest readily available figures. There is always a turnover of certificate holders since crews change on vessels regularly using any port. I understand that almost all the new certificates were replacements of additional certificates issued in these circumstances.

Associated British Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many pilots are employed on the Humber by Associated British Ports.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for the competent harbour authority. They have indicated that 77 authorised pilots will be employed by 4 March, that a further 17 have been recruited and are training for authorisation; and that they hope to have a full complement of 110 authorised pilots by the end of March.

Associated British Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much Government funding was given to Associated British Ports for their training of new pilots, under their new pilotage scheme, on the Humber.

David Jamieson: None.

Fire Service

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated (a) administrative and (b) total cost is of best value in England and Wales in the fire service since its introduction.

Alan Whitehead: There are a number of different categories of fire authorities in England and Wales. Broadly speaking, these divide into 34 single-purpose authorities and 16 county fire authorities, where the fire service is provided by the county council as one of a range of services. Single-purpose fire authorities are best value authorities in their own right. For county fire authorities the duty of best value applies at county council level. No overall assessment is available of the costs incurred by fire authorities on the best value process. It would not be feasible to apportion costs incurred by county councils in respect of best value for the fire service.

Arson

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) non-accidental vehicle fires, (b) incidents of arson and (c) incidents of arson in educational establishments there were, broken by (i) fire brigade area and (ii) local authority, in England and Wales, in each year since January 1997.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. It relates to malicious or deliberate fires attended by local authority fire brigades in England and Wales between 1997 and 2000.

Arson

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date the Government introduced its target to cut arson by 30 per cent. by 2009.

Alan Whitehead: The target to reduce by 30 per cent. the number of deliberate fires by March 2009 from the 1998–99 baseline was set as a service delivery agreement target in conjunction with Spending Review 2000. The service delivery agreement target was agreed with Treasury in November 2000.

Telecommunications Masts

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many appeal applications for telecommunications masts to be erected have been received by him; how many have been turned down; and on what grounds.

Sally Keeble: Information is not held about appeal decisions for telecommunications masts specifically. The following is information relating to appeal decisions about telecommunications development generally.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Number of appeals 147 325 589 
			 Number of appeals allowed 85 191 248 
			 Number of appeals dismissed 52 108 136 
			 Number of appeals withdrawn or undecided 10 26 205 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures relate to the year in which the appeal was received, not necessarily the year it was decided.
	While a large number of issues have been taken into account in determining telecommunications appeals, the most common issues for those that have been dismissed are the effect on the landscape, surrounding area (by reason of size, character, materials etc), areas of outstanding natural beauty or green belt policy issues, and other bad neighbour issues.

M42

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are being taken to alleviate traffic noise from the M42, with specific reference to where it passes through Solihull.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. John Taylor, dated 4 March 2002
	The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about measures to alleviate traffic noise from the M42 where it passes through Solihull.
	The Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport said that all concrete roads would be resurfaced with quieter surfacing materials by 2010. In line with that, the concrete surface of the Solihull section of M42 between Junctions 3A and 4 will be resurfaced, probably during the second half of the period covered by the 10 year plan.
	You will know that the West Midlands Multi Modal Study, carried out by consultants on behalf of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, has recommended widening the M42. You will also know that proposals for a motorway service area, which could result in the section of motorway between Junctions 5 and 6 being widened, are currently the subject of a planning inquiry. Were these widenings to go ahead, both would be subject to environmental appraisal, which would include an assessment of the impact of noise on surrounding properties.
	I should add that asphalt surface of the M42 between Junctions 4 and 7 is in good condition and is unlikely to need resurfacing as part of its normal maintenance cycle for some years. When it is, however, a quieter surfacing material will be used.
	If you would like further information, the Agency's Area Manager, David Cropper, would be pleased to help. He can be contacted at the Agency's offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or telephone on 0121 678 8482.

Planning Applications

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assistance is given to people who require help to contest planning application decisions.

Sally Keeble: An applicant may appeal against refusal of planning permission by a local planning authority, against the imposition of conditions, or against non determination of a planning application by a local planning authority. The Planning Inspectorate provide advice on making and taking part in planning appeals.
	Third parties who object to the grant of planning permission may make an application to the courts for judicial review of the local authority's decision. Public funding is available for legal representation in judicial review proceedings on certain terms and advice should be sought from a legal aid solicitor.
	Our Planning Green Paper puts forward a range of proposals designed to improve community participation in the planning system. This includes strengthening the existing opportunities for people to comment on and influence development proposals early in the process before formal planning applications are submitted. In order to help people engage more effectively in the planning process we are working with the Royal Town Planning Institute on ways in which the service provided by Planning Aid can be expanded and better funded.

External Contracts

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed;
	(2)  which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years;
	(3)  which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Units (Telford)

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new housing units have been constructed by registered social landlords in Telford in each financial year since 1990.

Sally Keeble: The numbers of new dwellings constructed by registered social landlords in Telford and Wrekin unitary authority, as report by the local authority, for the financial years requested are given in the table.
	
		Dwellings completed for registered social landlords in Telford and Wrekin
		
			 Period Number of dwellings 
		
		
			 1990–91 2 
			 1991–92 152 
			 1992–93 118 
			 1993–94 82 
			 1994–95 228 
			 1995–96 130 
			 1996–97 149 
			 1997–98 15 
			 1998–99 59 
			 1999–2000 183 
			 2000–01 180

Fire Authorities

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the separate precepting arrangements for combined fire authorities in England outlined in the latest local government White Paper will come into effect.

Alan Whitehead: As announced in the White Paper, the Government are proposing to take the legislative steps necessary to make combined fire authorities in England major precepting bodies. This change will require an amendment to primary legislation, because the revised financial arrangements would otherwise conflict with the provisions of section 5 of the Fire Services Act 1947. The timetable for making the change will depend upon the Department securing a legislative slot in a forthcoming Session of Parliament for a Bill to implement proposals in respect of local government finance in the White Paper.

Transport Research Laboratory

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the studies (a) being conducted and (b) published since 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory.

David Jamieson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	TRL is an independent private company and carries out research studies for many clients including DTLR. Since 1997 a large number of studies have been completed or are continuing for DTLR, and reports are normally published by TRL on completion of each study. To list the studies and reports would require disproportionate effort, but TRL should be able to provide copies of any report that has been published. Also, TRL publishes annual reports that list all the research and publications for that year and copies of these from 1997 may be obtained directly from TRL.

Transport Research Laboratory

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the Transport Research Laboratory's report into speed and road traffic accidents.

David Jamieson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	, about TRL studies and publications. The next TRL report on this topic is due to be published in March. This is TRL report number 511, "The relationship between speed and accidents on rural single carriageway roads" by M. C. Taylor, A. Baruya and J. V. Kennedy.

Local Strategic Partnerships

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of local strategic partnerships in rural areas; and what advice is available to parish and town councils.

Alan Whitehead: Parish and town councils provide a recognised role for involvement specific to people in rural areas, not only for local authorities in predominantly rural areas but also for those in areas which include some rural elements. Accountable parish and town councils can make an important contribution to the work of local strategic partnerships, for example feeding into the establishment of the long-term vision and identifying local priorities to be contained in the community strategy. The role that parish and town councils play should be a matter for local discussion between those councils and the relevant local strategic partnership. The Government produced guidance on local strategic partnerships in March 2001, and on the related subject of preparing community strategies in December 2000.

Leylandii

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to control leylandii hedges; and what the proposed timetable is for their implementation.

Sally Keeble: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mrs. Brooke) on 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 325W.

European Railway Safety Agency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy towards the establishment of a European railway safety agency under paragraph 36 of the Laeken conclusions; and what powers it will have.

David Jamieson: The Government welcome the publication by the Commission on 23 January of a "second package" of proposed measures to revitalise Europe's railways. This package includes a proposal to establish a European Rail Agency (ERA). We are considering these proposals carefully and will be consulting widely on them before reaching a formal position.
	The Commission's proposal makes clear that the ERA will have no substantive powers of its own. It will act in a technical advisory capacity to the Commission on railway interoperability and safety matters, and will be staffed by experts from the industry.

Coal Mining

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisations with a specific remit to support coal mining and former coal mining communities receive Government funding.

Sally Keeble: The Government funded organisations with specific remits to support coal mining and its former communities are:
	(i) The Coal Authority, whose principal functions are to license coal mining operations and to discharge liabilities stemming from historic mining activity;
	(ii) the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, whose objective is to be a key agency promoting and achieving the social and economic regeneration of the former coalfields.
	In addition, English Partnerships are responsible for delivering the ringfenced National Coalfields Programme working with the RDAs. This programme delivers environmental improvements and development infrastructure on the 86 former coalfield sites within the programme's portfolio.
	Furthermore, a Coalfields Enterprise Fund is to be launched later this year, providing venture capital to new and expanding small and medium sized business located in the former English coalfields.

Railtrack

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what arrangements will be made for debt to be covered by Railtrack's successor company; and if it will be guaranteed by Government.

David Jamieson: holding answer 1 March 2002
	It is for bidders to propose their arrangements for the treatment of debt.

Railtrack

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the level of indebtedness was of (a) Railtrack plc and (b) Railtrack Group immediately prior to the date of being put into administration; and how much debt the administrator has built up (i) to date and (ii) until the financial year end.

David Jamieson: holding answer 1 March 2002
	This is a matter for the administrator of Railtrack plc and, in the case of Railtrack Group plc, the company and its auditors.

Station Platforms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the decision of Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate not to allow new trains to stop at short platforms.

David Jamieson: holding answer 1 March 2002
	The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate's (HMRI) policy on long trains stopping at short platforms is based on an assessment of risk. HMRI prefer to see stations' platforms modified to ensure that they are long enough to accommodate trains without the need for selective door opening. However, where this is not possible, for example where there are structural constraints, HMRI are prepared to consider proposals from operators for selective door opening.

Braunstone Community Association

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 808–09W, on the Braunstone Community Association, if he will publish (a) the results and (b) the evidence obtained by his Department's audit investigation into the Braunstone Community Association; and what plans he has to alter the aims of the New Deal project following the audit investigation.

Sally Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 808–09W.

Council Tax

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the council tax for a band D property in each local authority in England for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02.

Alan Whitehead: Tables showing the band D council tax in each local authority in England for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Table 1 provides information on the band D council tax for the area of each local authority, with table 2 showing each authority's own band D council tax. The figures are based on two adults and include amounts funded by council tax benefit and transitional reduction.

Allowances (Local Government)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he gives to local authorities on (a) the payment of members' allowances and (b) employment of political staff.

Alan Whitehead: We issued local authorities with guidance on allowances for councillors in April 2001. Local authorities are required to have regard to the statutory parts of this guidance, as well as to the relevant legislation.
	The guidance sets out that basic and special responsibility allowances are discretionary allowances, with levels set by individual local authorities, having regard to the recommendations of their independent remuneration panels. Local authorities are required to publish the details of their scheme of allowances, the amount of each allowance paid to each member, and the recommendations of their independent remuneration panel.
	The maximum levels payable to councillors for travel and subsistence are governed by section 174 of the Local Government Act 1972. They were last updated in April 2000 by an Annex to Circular 1/86.
	The employment of political staff is covered by section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. There may be no more than three political assistants in a Local Authority. These posts are usually assigned to the three largest political groups which have ten per cent. or more of the membership of the authority, unless the authority decides to allow a different minority group to appoint a political assistant. Where only one political group has more than 10 per cent. of the authority's membership, that group and the next largest group will be entitled to appoint a political assistant. A political assistant may not discharge any of an authority's functions, nor may they direct any staff except for their own clerical or secretarial support. The maximum remuneration of political assistants is set by the Local Government (Assistant for Political Groups) (Remuneration) Order 1995, and is currently £25,044.

TREASURY

Customs and Excise

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statistics he keeps on the ethnic background of business-owners under investigation by HM Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: No such statistics are available. Customs in the course of their investigations do not collect this information.

PIU Voluntary Sector Review

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) numbers, (b) grades and (c) sections in which they work of the officials in his Department who have worked with PIU voluntary sector review: organisational forms for social enterprise; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which Minister in his Department has responsibility for the PIU voluntary sector review: organisational forms for social enterprise.

Ruth Kelly: The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) is not part of HM Treasury but is located in the Cabinet Office and reports directly to the Prime Minister. The sponsor Minister for the PIU voluntary sector review is the Home Secretary. In the course of normal business the PIU are in close touch with a range of Treasury officials on issues of common concern.

Meat Imports

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officials were employed to check personal imports of meat and meat products on 1 January (a) 2002, (b) 2001, (c) 2000 and (d) 1999.

Paul Boateng: Customs law enforcement officers deal with the full range of prohibitions and restrictions where Customs has an enforcement responsibility. No Customs officials are employed specifically for meat and meat product checks where local and port health authorities and DEFRA have the lead responsibilities.
	Customs officers do however participate in joint exercises organised by the lead agencies to target illicit meat as well as seizing meat found in the normal course of their duties.

Global Crossing

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates that Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in their ministerial capacities since 1 January 1999 from Global Crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Offers of hospitality which are accepted are registered in line with the requirements of paragraph 139 of the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Development

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often the Department has applied the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to a development by the Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has not applied these provisions.

Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by his Department in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: Expenditure on services provided by the Treasury's caterers was as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 In-house staff restaurant and associated facilities:  
			 1997–98 52,709.85 
			 1998–99 39,643.51 
			 1999–2000 129,978.39 
			 2000–01 146,236.35 
			   
			 Other catering services:  
			 1997–98 86,095.73 
			 1998–99 111,245.58 
			 1999–2000 93,426.23 
			 2000–01 106,466.30 
		
	
	This period covers the provision of additional facilities in a second Treasury building, Allington Towers, and the provision of additional snack bar facilities in the main Treasury building. In addition, this period saw the loss of subsidy contribution when other occupants of main Treasury building moved out.

Euro

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the countries pegged to the euro which are outside the Eurozone.

Ruth Kelly: This information was published in the European Central Bank's "Review of the International Role of the Euro", in October 2001.

Smuggling

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been prosecuted for smuggling tobacco and alcohol into the country during the past five years; and what forms of punishment were administered to these individuals.

Paul Boateng: Each prosecution case can involve a number of defendants. Customs central records collate the number of prosecution cases rather than the number of people prosecuted.
	For the number of prosecutions relating to tobacco and alcohol smuggling for the period 1996–96 to 1999–2000, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 15 January 2001, Official Record, column 123W.
	In 2000–01, Customs prosecuted 764 cases. Details of the penalties levied for excise and single market offences are contained in the Customs and Excise Annual Reports from 1996–97 to 1999–2000. The same information for the period 2000–01 will be detailed in the Customs and Excise Annual Report for 2000–01, due to be published shortly.

Smuggling

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have been found guilty by a court of law of smuggling non-excise paid tobacco and alcohol into this country; how many of these individuals received a penalty fine as a result; and what was the average level of this penalty in the last three years.

Paul Boateng: Customs do not hold centrally information in the format requested. However, details of the penalties levied for excise and single market offences are contained in the Customs and Excise Annual Reports for 1996–97 to 1999–2000. Information for the period 2000–01 will be detailed in the Customs and Excise Annual Report for 2000–01, due to be published shortly.

Smuggling

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many websites offering the sale of non-duty paid tobacco and alcohol have been shut down within the past five years.

Paul Boateng: As part of the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy published in March 2000, Customs actively started targeting websites selling non-UK duty paid tobacco. Customs do not hold records of all websites operating prior to the start of the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy.
	Customs estimate that as a result of their actions since March 2000, 85 of these websites have ceased trading.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of cigarettes that will be seized as a result of scanner operations in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Paul Boateng: Customs targets for the overall number of cigarettes to be seized in the years 2000–01 to 2002–03 are included in the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy published in March 2000—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. In 2000–01 Customs substantially exceeded their target. An estimate for the revenue value of seizures in these years resulting from the installation of scanners is included in this document.
	The Government will publish annually details of the outcomes from the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy. The results from the first year of the strategy were included in the Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud paper published in November 2001—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods he has used to measure the effectiveness of HM Customs and Excise's publicity campaign about tobacco smuggling.

Paul Boateng: In common with most major Government publicity campaigns, effectiveness is measured through detailed creative development and tracking research. The outcome of the research is taken into account in planning further phases of the campaign.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of unmarked tobacco products have been seized and detained by trading standards officers, since June 2001.

Paul Boateng: Trading Standards Officers do not currently maintain central records of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco seizures, but Customs and Excise are requesting them to provide an annual return.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review his target for 2001–02 for asset seizures in connection with tobacco smuggling.

Paul Boateng: The Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy published in March 2000 set Customs, for the first time, financial targets against tobacco smuggling involving asset seizures. Customs regularly review performance against these targets, monitoring the contribution made to the achievement of the overall outcome of reducing the size of the illicit cigarette market.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) private light goods vehicles and (b) other private vehicles used for smuggling were seized by Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, and (ii) 2000–01; and how many in each category were restored to their owners in each year.

Paul Boateng: Customs centrally held information on vehicle seizures does not differentiate between the types of private vehicle seized. For the total number of vehicles seized across the UK in 1999–2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 125W. Figures for the number of vehicles seized by Customs across the UK during 2000–01 are contained in the Government's response to the independent report by John Roques into "The Collection of Excise Duties in HM Customs and Excise" (House of Commons command 5329, July 2001), a copy of which was placed in the Library on 19 July 2001.
	I regret that Customs does not centrally hold information on the number of vehicles restored.

Smuggling

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many private and light goods vehicles have been seized by HM Customs and Excise in the last five years for suspected smuggling offences; and, of these, how many were (a) confiscated indefinitely and (b) returned for a fee.

Paul Boateng: Customs records of the number of vehicles seized do not disaggregate between the nature of the offence or the type of the vehicle involved in each case. For the number of vehicles seized across the whole of the UK from 1996–97 to 1997–98, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 18 June 1998, Official Report, column 274W. For the number of vehicles seized across the UK in 1998–99, 1999–2000, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 125W. Figures for the number of vehicles seized across the UK during 2000–01 are contained in the Government's response to the independent report by John Roques into "The Collection of Excise Duties in HM Customs and Excise" (House of Commons command 5329, July 2001), a copy of which was placed in the Library on 19 July 2001.
	Customs do not centrally hold information on vehicle restoration.

Smuggling

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received by HM Customs and Excise in the past five years relating to the seizure of private and light goods vehicles at UK ports for suspected smuggling offences.

Paul Boateng: Customs do not maintain in the form requested a central record of the number of complaints received.

Smuggling

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many heavy goods vehicles used for smuggling have been seized by HM Customs and Excise since the introduction of the new policy in July 2001; how many of those seizures were for (a) first and (b) second or subsequent offences; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: This information is currently unavailable. Customs expect to collate and publish it on an annual basis.

EC Directive 92/83

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to transpose EC Directive 92/83; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Council Directive 92/83/EEC is already implemented in the UK.

Overseas Aid

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage of GNP is committed to overseas aid in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what plans he has to increase the percentage of GNP committed to overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The final figures for 2002 are currently not available from the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The latest DAC figures available show the UK net overseas development assistance average for 2000 was 0.32 per cent. of GNP.
	The Government remain fully committed to the UN 0.7 per cent oda/GNP target. They have made clear their pledge that the ratio of aid to GNP will reach 0.33 per cent. in 2003–04. This would place the UK above the G7 country average of 0.19 per cent. and the OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
	In his speech in November in New York and in his pre-Budget report speech, the Chancellor emphasised his commitment to ensuring further substantial increases in development assistance and its share in national income. The impending spending review will set spending plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 and is an opportunity to consider plans for development spending beyond 2003–04, alongside other priorities and pressures.

Overseas Aid

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the proportion of gross national income devoted to overseas development assistance was in each financial year since 1979.

Paul Boateng: The oda/GNI ratio is an input target whose elements are set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Development assistance as a percentage of GNP will rise to 0.33 per cent. in 2003/04, up from 0.26 per cent. in 1997.
	The figures for the proportion of gross national income devoted to overseas development assistance for each financial year since 1979 are available in the DFID Report, Statistics on International Development 1996/7–2000/01, page 143, Figure 16.1 Net oda/GNI ratios for the UK.
	The report is a National Statistics publication.

Overseas Aid

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he intends to achieve the United Nations' target of 0.7 per cent. GNP for overseas aid.

Paul Boateng: The Government remain fully committed to the UN 0.7 per cent. oda/GNP target. They have made clear their pledge that the ratio of aid to GNP will reach 0.33 per cent in 2003–04. This would place the UK above the G7 country average of 0.19 per cent. and the OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
	In his speech in November in New York, and in his pre-Budget report speech, the Chancellor emphasised his commitment to ensuring further substantial increases in development assistance and its share in national income. The impending spending review will set spending plans for 2003–04 to 2005–6 and is an opportunity to consider plans for development spending beyond 2003–04, alongside other priorities and pressures.

Fair Trade

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether fair trade products are sold in his Department.

Ruth Kelly: Yes.

Pensions

Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of the abolition of the advance corporation tax credit on future pensions.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional contributions that (a) a 30- year-old man, (b) a 40-year-old man and (c) a 50-year-old man would have to make to a money-purchase pension scheme as a result of changes to the tax treatment of pension funds introduced since 1997.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of months' pension contributions would now be required to achieve an equivalent funded pension to a year's pension contributions in 1997;
	(2)  to what extent the value of pension funds has changed as a result of his amendments to advance corporation tax.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's package of corporation tax reforms included measures to boost corporate investment by removing tax distortions. The withdrawal of payable tax credits on dividends was just one part of these measures. Pension funds will share in the long-term benefits from these changes to corporation tax. The overall effects of these changes on pension funds and future pensions will depend on a variety of factors, including: the type of scheme paying the pension; the take-up of private pensions; the level of future pension contributions; pension schemes' asset allocation and investment policies; and investment returns generally.

Sir Ronald Cohen

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with Sir Ronald Cohen since 1 May 1997; what subjects were discussed at those meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

EU Prospectus Directive

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed EU Prospectus Directive, with specific reference to the impact of this directive on the regulatory burden and costs of listing on non-recognised investment exchanges.

Ruth Kelly: It is not possible to list securities on a 'non-recognised investment exchange', but I assume that my hon. Friend's question relates to AIM and OFEX.
	The admission of securities to trading on AIM and OFEX does not currently trigger requirements in terms of the Listing Particulars Directive (which would be repealed by the Prospectus Directive). The Prospectus Directive, as drafted, would stipulate that the admission of trading of securities to trading on a regulated market would trigger a requirement for a prospectus. AIM is currently a regulated market but OFEX is not.
	However, the position in respect of both AIM and OFEX could change depending on the changes made to the definition of 'regulated market' in the new Investment Services Directive.
	Three aspects of the prospectus Directive, as drafted, could give rise to additional costs for companies that seek or obtain admission to trading on AIM: the precise content requirements of both the registration document and the full prospectus; the approval process for prospectuses; and the provision for mandatory shelf registration.
	We take very seriously the possibility that the Prospectus Directive might increase the regulatory burden for UK companies. But it is not possible at this stage of the negotiation to calculate the cost implications for companies whose securities are admitted to trading on AIM and OFEX.

Government Management Map

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002, ref 37683, if he will list the units which report to each Minister for the organogram to which he refers; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Ministerial responsibilities are set out in HM Treasury's Departmental Report, (Cm 5116). The responsibilities of teams across the Department are also outlined in the report.

Monetary Union

John MacDougall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on the required European Union conditions for the public sector borrowing requirement in advance of a decision of UK entry into the monetary union.

Ruth Kelly: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 6 December 2001, Official Report, columns 517–18W.

Advance Corporation Tax

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional income has been realised by the Exchequer as a result of his most recent changes to advance corporation tax.

Dawn Primarolo: Advance corporation tax was abolished with effect from April 1999. The abolition did not in itself give rise to additional yield to the Exchequer.
	The abolition of advance corporation tax was part of a package of reforms that included the abolition of payable tax credits on dividends and cuts in corporation tax rates. These changes were designed to boost corporate investment by removing tax distortions and to improve the climate for quality long-term investment. The figures of cost and yield for these reforms were given in the FSBR for the July 1997 and March 1998 Budgets.

X-ray Images

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what was the original target date, and what the latest target date is, for the completion of HM Customs and Excise's programme to train officers in the recognition of x-ray images;
	(2)  by how long the Customs and Excise programme to train officers in the interpretation of x-ray images has exceeded the original plan;
	(3)  for what reason the Customs and Excise programme to train officers in the interpretation of x-ray images has taken longer than planned.

Paul Boateng: The original target to train sufficient staff for the proposed operation of each scanner was met for all scanners.
	However, in certain locations managers decided to extend the scope of the operation or increase the number of staff involved with image interpretation. These changes created an additional training requirement which is being met. The operational efficiency of the scanner fleet has not been adversely affected.

X-ray Images

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many Customs officers he plans will undergo training during (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 in the interpretation of x-ray images;
	(2)  how many customs officers have received training in the interpretation of x-ray images.

Paul Boateng: 247 officers working with the mobile x-ray freight scanners have received training in the interpretation of x-ray images.
	Training for a further 100 officers will be delivered during the first half of 2002–03.

Fuel Fraud

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will state the reasons for the size of the variation between HM Customs and Excise's upper and lower estimates of revenue lost from frauds on petrol and diesel, as reported in paragraph 7 of the National Audit Office report, HC614;
	(2)  what his estimate is in respect of Northern Ireland of the revenue loss from (a) frauds on petrol and diesel and (b) legitimate cross-border shopping for petrol and diesel in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02;
	(3)  what his estimate is of the revenue loss from frauds on petrol and diesel in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02;
	(4)  what his estimate is of the revenue lost from frauds on diesel in Great Britain in (a) 2000–01, and (b) 2001–02;
	(5)  if he will place in the Library a description of the methodology used by HM Customs and Excise to calculate the revenue lost from frauds on petrol and diesel.

Paul Boateng: The methodology used by HM Customs and Excise to estimate the revenue lost from frauds on petrol and diesel, and details of those estimates currently available, can be found in "Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud", a paper published alongside the pre-Budget report, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Fuel (Northern Ireland)

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of requiring all duty paid fuel in Northern Ireland to be chemically marked;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to require duty paid fuel in Northern Ireland to be chemically marked.

Paul Boateng: Customs will keep under review the feasibility and effectiveness of all measures required to tackle oils fraud. No estimate of the relevant costs has yet been made.

VAT Departmental Trader Register

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for how many minutes of a working day the VAT Department Trader Register has been unavailable on average over the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  on which occasions between February and June 1991 the VAT Departmental Trader Register was unavailable as stated in paragraph 4.7 of Volume 16 of the Appropriation Accounts 2000–01.

Paul Boateng: The VAT Departmental Trader Register has been unavailable on average for 36 minutes per day over the last 12 months. Almost half of this related to pre-planned downtime for system upgrades. On such occasions staff were notified in advance enabling them to plan their work accordingly.
	The occasions between February and June 2001 on which the VAT Departmental Trader Register system was unavailable are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Times 
		
		
			 February 2001  
			 12 16.00–16.45 
			 13 08.00–15.50 
			   
			 March 2001  
			 19 08.00–18.00 
			 27 08.00–10.20 
			   
			 April 2001  
			 6 09.50–12.05 
			 10 08.20–08.50 
			 19 13.30–16.10 
			 20 11.15–12.15 
			 23 08.00–08.35 
			 25 13.00–14.30 
			 26 13.00–14.30 
			 27 07.30–10.00 
			 30 09.10–10.00 
			  and 15.00–16.05 
			   
			 May 2001  
			 4 12.45–13.15 
			 9 08.00–09.45 
			 11 10.15–11.10 
			 15 15.46–17.02 
			 30 08.00–10.47 
			 31 08.00–10.47 
			   
			 June 2001  
			 13 08.00–18.00 
			 14 08.00–18.00

VAT Directive

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to press for the amendment of the Sixth VAT Directive following the decision of the European Court of Justice in 'Commission v. the Netherlands' (C-338/98);
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom employers of the decision of the European Court of Justice in Commission v. the Netherlands, (case C-338/98).

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 December 2001, Official Report, column 688W.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requirements HM Customs and Excise impose on the suppliers of digital certificates for VAT in order for those certificates to be accepted.

Paul Boateng: The digital certificates must have been issued by a trust service that meets Government guidelines for registration of businesses and individuals. Additionally, the service must be approved by a Government recognised approval body, or the trust service provider must have committed to achieve such approval.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what method of selection he used to determine the organisations accepted by HM Customs and Excise as suppliers of digital certificates for VAT.

Paul Boateng: The Government welcome digital certificates as evidence of identity issued by any trust services that meet Government guidelines for identification of individuals and businesses, provided:
	(a) that the service has been approved by a recognised approval body, or that there is a commitment to gain such approval;
	(b) that the technical interface between the Government Gateway and the trust service provider can be established;
	(c) that the Certificate Policy and contractual issues allow the Government to rely upon the certificates.
	The Government have been, and continue to be, in discussion with a number of potential suppliers to increase the availability of digital certificate services.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in the year to the end of August 2001 HM Customs and Excise carried out pre-VAT registration visits to traders.

Paul Boateng: As part of their strategy to tackle VAT missing trader fraud, Customs carried out 4,498 pre-VAT registration visits between September 2000 and August 2001.
	Customs do not maintain data on pre-registration visits conducted for other reasons and it would involve disproportionate cost to produce.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the providers of digital certificates for VAT pay fees and other payments to the Government.

Paul Boateng: No.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the Government's policy to seek amendments to European VAT directives to allow HM Customs and Excise to refuse applications from traders to register for VAT in cases where they have continuing concerns about possible fraud.

Paul Boateng: Tackling VAT missing trader fraud is a Customs VAT fraud priority. In "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", published at the pre-Budget report, the outline of customs strategy to tackle the fraud was set out. It includes a commitment to evaluate new legal and system options for tackling this fraud.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which organisations have been selected by HM Customs and Excise as providers of digital certificates for VAT;
	(2)  if he plans to allow companies to submit on-line VAT returns directly to HM Customs and Excise without having to obtain a digital certificate from an outside supplier.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise are currently reviewing their policy in relation to the use of digital certificates in providing a secure method of submitting VAT returns electronically. The review aims to achieve the optimum balance between ease of use while maintaining the necessary level of security. The review will take into account any latest advice from the Office of the e-Envoy on Government policy in this area.
	Customs currently allows any digital certificate approved by the Office of the e-Envoy to be used with the electronic VAT return. Two organisations have approved products: Equifax and the British Chambers of Commerce.

National Lottery Franchises

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases since July 2001 HM Customs and Excise (a) removed a National Lottery terminal from a trader convicted of selling unmarked tobacco products, (b) objected to the renewal of a liquor licence and (c) asked a franchise-owner to take action against a franchisee.

Paul Boateng: Customs notify Camelot when a lottery terminal holder has been convicted of an excise offence. Any decision to remove the lottery terminal remains with Camelot. Since April 2001, Customs have not sent any notifications to Camelot.
	Customs notify the police when a person holding a liquor licence has excise goods seized, or is convicted of an excise offence. The police are responsible for lodging any objections to the renewal of a liquor licence. Since April 2001, Customs have notified the police on one occasion.
	The information requested relating to franchise owners is not held centrally by Customs and Excise.

Road Fuel Testing

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if HM Customs and Excise plans to review its policy on the prosecution of offenders detected by road fuel testing units;
	(2)  what the policy of HM Customs and Excise is in deciding whether an offender detected by a road fuel testing unit should have his seized vehicle restored or the seizure should be maintained.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise have a wide range of sanctions available to deal with offenders detected by road fuel testing units, including prosecution. Customs current vehicle seizure policy in relation to the misuse of rebated fuels takes into account the individual circumstances of each case and seeks to ensure that individuals who are repeatedly detected misusing rebated fuel will not have their vehicle restored. As outlined in the PBR paper "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" Customs are currently developing their strategy to tackle oils fraud, and are reviewing the use of all sanctions to ensure that they are used in the most effective way against those engaged in oils fraud.

Nursing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in challenging the decision of the London VAT Tribunal in the Kingscrest case on the implementation of free nursing care and the affordability of fee levels; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The decision of the VAT and Duties Tribunal in the Kingscrest Associates Ltd. and Montecello Ltd. case does not impact upon nursing care.
	Customs and Excise's appeal against this tribunal decision was heard by the High Court on 19 February. Whatever the outcome of the appeal, the Government will take steps to ensure that the residents of care homes do not face increased costs as a result of VAT.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many organisations and companies have elected to pay the climate change levy in euros.

Paul Boateng: No organisation or company has elected to pay the climate change levy to HM Customs and Excise in euros.

Climate Change Levy

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reasons companies registered under Part B of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations are ineligible to participate in a climate change agreement;
	(2)  what the reasons are for his decision to impose an Integrated Pollution, Prevention and Control Directive criteria for membership of a climate change levy energy efficiency agreement;
	(3)  what plans he has to amend the descriptions of energy-intensive installations included in Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000;
	(4)  for what reasons companies whose business is slaking lime for the purpose of making calcium hydroxide and calcium magnesium hydroxide are ineligible to participate in a climate change agreement.

Paul Boateng: Energy intensive installations that are eligible to enter into climate change agreements are those covered by parts A1 and A2 of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (IPPC) (as set out in Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000). IPPC covers all the main energy intensive sectors of industry which are subject to international competition. IPPC sites also have to operate in an energy efficient manner; other sites are not subject to this requirement. The decision to use IPPC to define the eligible energy intensive sectors was confirmed following extensive consultation with industry on possible alternatives. The Government are still prepared to consider suggestions for alternative eligibility criteria, but they would have to meet the same conditions as IPPC, which provides a clear rationale, legal certainty, administrative simplicity, and compatibility with EU state aid rules.

LNM

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what sums are owed by companies in the LNM group to HM Customs and Excise;
	(2)  if HM Customs and Excise has imposed penalties or fines on companies in the LNM group for late payment of taxes and duties in the last two years;
	(3)  what his policy is towards the recovery by HM Customs and Excise of taxes and duties owed by the LNM group of companies.

Paul Boateng: The tax affairs of companies and of private individuals are confidential, under section 182 of the Finance Act 1989.

LORDS Computer System

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the original target date was for the replacement of the LORDS computer system; what the latest target date is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the original budget for replacing the LORDS computer system was; what the estimated cost of the project is; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The replacement of the LORDS computer system for VAT registration is one component of a series of fundamental changes under consideration to the way Customs process applications for all their taxes and duties. The total cost of these changes, which are far wider than a straight replacement for LORDS, would be in the region of £12.6 million. The original target date for implementation of the new computer system was July 2002.
	As part of this, a small number of high priority improvements to the LORDS system are planned for delivery in summer 2002. Plans for a full replacement of the LORDS system will be considered in due course as part of Customs' strategic review of their IS projects and priorities.

CCL 100 Forms

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many CCL 100 forms were returned to HM Customs and Excise for the (a) first, (b) second and (c) third quarters of the financial year 2001–2002; how many such forms in each quarter were (i) completed incorrectly and (ii) submitted late; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Information based on individual calendar quarters is not available because registered businesses submit returns according to the particular stagger of tax period they request. The number of returns received to date for each stagger is as follows:
	Stagger 1 (returns ending in March, June, September and
	December—566;
	Stagger 2 (returns ending in April, July, October and January)—150;
	Stagger 3 (returns ending in May, August, November and February)—102.
	Only one return was completed incorrectly; and all returns have been received within acceptable timescales.

HEALTH

NHS Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts were in debt in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001; and what was the level of debt for each.

John Hutton: The information has been placed in the Library.
	Note:
	Changes (in line with best accounting practice) in the accounting and financial reporting arrangements for NHS trusts mean that the figures provided for 1996–97 and 2000–01 are not directly comparable.

Oral Cancer

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in each health authority in England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The number of cases of oral cancer diagnosed in each health authority in England in 1998, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the table.
	The NHS Cancer Plan, published last year, provides a comprehensive strategy for improving cancer care linking prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and research.
	Smoking is implicated in the cause of oral and many other cancers. The NHS Cancer Plan sets out a clear agenda for improving cancer prevention through changes in lifestyle related to smoking and diet. There have already been notable improvements in numbers of people giving up smoking. In 2000–01, over 64,000 people were helped by national health service cessation services to give up smoking.
	
		
			 Health authority Number 
		
		
			 Avon HA 73 
			 Barking and Havering HA 21 
			 Barnet HA 23 
			 Barnsley HA 15 
			 Bedfordshire HA 34 
			 Berkshire HA 55 
			 Bexley and Greenwich HA 37 
			 Birmingham HA 85 
			 Bradford HA 28 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 34 
			 Bromley HA 18 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 51 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 48 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 48 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon HA 26 
			 Camden and Islington HA 29 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 26 
			 County Durham HA 42 
			 Coventry HA 24 
			 Croydon HA 26 
			 Doncaster HA 29 
			 Dorset HA 56 
			 Dudley HA 20 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 48 
			 East and North Hertfordshire HA 30 
			 East Kent HA 39 
			 East Lancashire HA 37 
			 East London and The City HA 26 
			 East Norfolk HA 53 
			 East Riding HA 56 
			 East Surrey HA 37 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 51 
			 Enfield and Haringey HA 46 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 41 
			 Gloucestershire HA 32 
			 Herefordshire HA 10 
			 Hillingdon HA 13 
			 Isle of Wight HA 11 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 38 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 24 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 54 
			 Leeds HA 51 
			 Leicestershire HA 55 
			 Lincolnshire HA 43 
			 Liverpool HA 50 
			 Manchester HA 41 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 63 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 22 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 49 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 29 
			 North and East Devon HA 41 
			 North Cheshire HA 19 
			 North Cumbria HA 25 
			 North Derbyshire HA 23 
			 North Essex HA 47 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 28 
			 North Staffordshire HA 36 
			 North West Anglia HA 31 
			 North West Lancashire HA 48 
			 North Yorkshire HA 58 
			 Northamptonshire HA 39 
			 Northumberland HA 27 
			 Nottingham HA 53 
			 Oxfordshire HA 43 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 30 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 21 
			 Rotherham HA 10 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 42 
			 Sandwell HA 20 
			 Sefton HA 19 
			 Sheffield HA 32 
			 Shropshire HA 34 
			 Solihull HA 10 
			 Somerset HA 36 
			 South and West Devon HA 49 
			 South Cheshire HA 54 
			 South Derbyshire HA 49 
			 South Essex HA 32 
			 South Humber HA 26 
			 South Lancashire HA 23 
			 South Staffordshire HA 40 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA 54 
			 St. Helen's and Knowsley HA 24 
			 Stockport HA 29 
			 Suffolk HA 55 
			 Sunderland HA 24 
			 Tees HA 52 
			 Wakefield HA 18 
			 Walsall HA 20 
			 Warwickshire HA 32 
			 West Hertfordshire HA 28 
			 West Kent HA 64 
			 West Pennine HA 44 
			 West Surrey HA 57 
			 West Sussex HA 54 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 40 
			 Wiltshire HA 48 
			 Wirral HA 42 
			 Wolverhampton HA 19 
			 Worcestershire HA 24 
			 England 3,670

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the proposed funding for diabetes care outlined in the interim Wanless report is earmarked for (a) eye screening and (b) eye complications associated with diabetes and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 169W.

Hospices

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase Government funding for children's hospices.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 1 February 2002
	Children's hospices have access to national health service funding, the level of which must be agreed by health authorities and primary care trusts following assessment of local options available to support children with life threatening illnesses, and their families. In addition children's hospices will be eligible to apply for funding from the New Opportunity Fund's children's palliative care grant programme later this year that will make available an additional £48 million for children's paediatric care.

Solihull Hospital

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will repeat the pledge made by the then Health Minister on 3 March 1997 concerning Solihull Hospital and the services to be provided there.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 5 February 2002
	Decisions about services at Solihull hospital are a matter first for local consideration. Any proposals for significant changes to services anywhere in the national health service require formal consultation, and where local agreement is not reached, matters are referred to Ministers. No such proposals for consultation have been received for Solihull hospital.

Residential Care (Elderly)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Lancashire county council concerning the impact on the NHS of its proposals to reduce the numbers of residential homes for the elderly.

Jacqui Smith: The Social Services Inspectorate is following closely the work that Lancashire county council is undertaking to assess its current care provision, in particular the consultation with the national health service, local people and other interested parties about future strategies.

Pesticide Residues

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given by his Department to pregnant women about reducing their exposure to pesticide residues in food.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is advised on the issue of pesticides by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The FSA has provided the following reply in consultation with the Pesticides Safety Directorate (an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)).
	When considering the approval of a pesticide the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides refers to a large dossier of information and studies carried out on the pesticide. The dossier has information on toxicology of the pesticide, including specific studies to address the reproductive toxicity of the pesticide and crop residues data. Only those pesticides which demonstrate an acceptable risk to all groups of consumers (including pregnant women) can be approved.
	The findings from the 2000 pesticide residues monitoring programme indicates that standards are being maintained at levels that the FSA believes provide a high level of consumer protection and confidence.
	Thus, the FSA believes it is not necessary to issue specific advice to pregnant women on this issue as the regulatory process fully takes the risks to this consumer group into consideration.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what locations in the UK cockles have tested positive for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning when other shellfish have tested negative.

Yvette Cooper: There have been six locations where cockles have tested positive for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning while other shellfish sampled on the same day have tested negative. These are the Thames Estuary, the Wash, Whitstable, the Menai Straight, the Burry Inlet and Strangford Lough.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the highly toxic form of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning affecting cockles, which does not show the normally typical presence of okadaic acid, was first discovered by the FSA; at what locations; and what research has been commissioned into its causes.

Yvette Cooper: The Food Standards Agency became aware of the unusual aspects of the diarrhetic shellfish poisoning tests in cockles in October 2001. This has been seen in samples taken from the Burry Inlet, Anglesey, the Thames Estuary, the Wash and Strangford Lough. Initial investigations into the cause of the toxicity have been undertaken as part of the agency's on-going programmes of research and surveillance on shellfish toxins. The results of these investigations have been used to produce a structured plan of research on this toxicity, which will begin at the start of March.

Non-EU Nurse Training

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the countries outside the EU where nurses trained, who registered with UKCC in each of the last four years and (b) the number from each such country.

John Hutton: The information requested for the last three years where the data have been published is in the table.
	
		Entrants to the UKCC register
		
			 Country Number 
		
		
			  Year to 31 March 1998 
			 Australia 1,170 
			 New Zealand 472 
			 Nigeria 130 
			 S/Africa 393 
			 USA 143 
			 Canada 203 
			 West Indies 93 
			 Other 290 
			 Total 2,894 
			   
			  Year to 31 March 1999 
			 Australia 1,335 
			 New Zealand 527 
			 Nigeria 179 
			 S/Africa 599 
			 USA 139 
			 Canada 196 
			 West Indies 237 
			 Other 409 
			 Total 3,621 
			   
			  Year to 31 March 2000 
			 Australia 1,209 
			 New Zealand 461 
			 Nigeria 208 
			 Philippines 1,052 
			 S/Africa 1,460 
			 USA 168 
			 Canada 130 
			 West Indies 425 
			 Zimbabwe 221 
			 Other 654 
			 Total 5,988 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistical Analysis of the UKCC Professional Register
	The data published for the year to 31 March 1997 do not list the countries where entrants from overseas trained but does show that there were 2,633 overseas entrants.

Community Nursing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital and community health services, nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff there were within the community nursing areas of work broken down by qualification and region on (a) 30 September 1996, (b) 30 September 1997, (c) 30 September 1998 and (d) 30 September 1999.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health service (HCHS) and practice nurses: nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed in the community areas of work by region and grade in England as at 30 September each year -- Headcount
		
			  England Northern and Yorkshire Trent Anglia and Oxford North Thames South Thames South and West West Midlands North West Others 
		
		
			 1996   
			 Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 91,260 11,860 9,330 9,710 12,950 13,800 11,350 9,340 12,920 10 
			 Total qualified 75,280 9,610 7,610 7,920 10,640 11,340 9,790 7,930 10,450 10 
			 Manager 1,000 180 80 100 140 170 160 80 100 0 
			 Registered sick children's nurse 530 60 40 70 30 160 30 90 50 0 
			 Health Visitor 12,350 1,640 1,240 1,320 1,600 1,830 1,590 1,280 1,860 0 
			 District Nurse 14,250 1,860 1,380 1,540 1,800 2,040 1,840 1,540 2,250 0 
			 Other 1st level 25,820 3,140 2,830 2,480 4,160 4,040 2,960 2,670 3,540 10 
			 Other 2nd level 3,430 580 320 330 320 600 510 190 590 0 
			 Practice Nurse 17,900 2,160 1,720 2,080 2,580 2,500 2,700 2,080 2,090 0 
			
			 Total unqualified 15,980 2,250 1,720 1,800 2,310 2,460 1,560 1,410 2,470 0 
			 Nursery nurse 420 80 80 30 30 20 40 70 70 0 
			 Nurse assistant/auxiliary 15,570 2,170 1,640 1,760 2,280 2,440 1,520 1,340 2,400 0 
		
	
	
		Headcount 
		
			  England Northern and Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West SHAs and Others 
		
		
			 1997   
			 Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 94,110 12,130 9,690 10,370 13,250 9,840 14,030 16,130 8,660 * 
			 Total qualified 77,250 9,790 8,030 8,550 10,650 7,800 11,780 13,270 7,360 * 
			 Manager 1,000 170 90 80 110 120 180 160 90 0 
			 Registered sick children's nurse 780 40 60 200 80 * 170 200 20 0 
			 Health Visitor 12,410 1,560 1,320 1,300 1,840 1,150 1,880 2,170 1,200 0 
			 District Nurse 14,150 1,700 1,310 1,860 2,260 1,450 2,040 2,300 1,220 0 
			 Other 1st level 27,390 3,630 3,160 2,620 3,750 2,650 4,490 4,670 2,420 0 
			 Other 2nd level 3,130 510 280 210 490 280 460 440 470 * 
			 Practice Nurse 18,390 2,190 1,830 2,280 2,110 2,150 2,560 3,330 1,940 0 
			   0 
			 Total unqualified 16,860 2,340 1,660 1,820 2,600 2,040 2,260 2,860 1,300 0 
			 Nursery nurse 510 100 90 100 70 60 20 30 40 0 
			 Nurse assistant/auxiliary 16,350 2,240 1,570 1,720 2,520 1,980 2,240 2,820 1,250 0 
		
	
	
		Headcount 
		
			  England Northern and Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West SHAs and others 
		
		
			 1998   
			 Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 98,350 13,070 10,140 11,400 13,860 10,130 14,380 16,410 8,960 * 
			 Total qualified 80,110 10,420 8,440 9,100 11,040 8,170 12,090 13,280 7,570 * 
			 Manager 1,040 170 100 100 110 120 210 140 80 0 
			 Registered sick children's nurse 760 40 20 240 80 10 140 220 10 0 
			 Health Visitor 12,570 1,560 1,320 1,350 1,850 1,190 1,960 2,120 1,200 0 
			 District Nurse 14,260 1,940 1,380 1,800 2,250 1,420 1,910 2,400 1,170 0 
			 Other 1st level 29,610 3,810 3,290 3,160 4,100 2,990 4,580 4,890 2,780 * 
			 Other 2nd level 2,970 520 220 230 460 290 450 390 410 0 
			 Practice nurse 18,890 2,370 2,100 2,230 2,180 2,160 2,830 3,110 1,910 0 
			
			 Total unqualified 18,240 2,650 1,700 2,300 2,820 1,960 2,300 3,140 1,380 0 
			 Nursery nurse 630 90 140 120 100 80 20 40 50 0 
			 Nursing assistant/auxiliary 17,610 2,550 1,570 2,170 2,720 1,880 2,280 3,100 1,330 0 
		
	
	
		Headcount
		
			  England Northern and Yorkshire Trent West Midlands North West Eastern London South East South West SHAs and others 
		
		
			 1999   
			 Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 101,810 13,090 10,190 11,840 14,860 10,230 14,950 17,730 8,910 * 
			 Total qualified 82,580 10,560 8,500 9,310 11,630 8,150 12,670 14,030 7,730 * 
			 Manager 1,020 170 60 80 120 150 190 170 80 0 
			 Registered sick children's nurse 530 40 50 70 120 10 80 150 * 0 
			 Health Visitor 12,800 1,580 1,360 1,420 1,840 1,140 2,050 2,220 1,190 0 
			 District Nurse 14,260 1,710 1,210 1,920 2,180 1,360 2,250 2,450 1,180 0 
			 Other 1st level 31,480 4,060 3,570 3,490 4,530 3,040 4,710 5,100 2,970 * 
			 Other 2nd level 3,000 570 220 220 420 230 610 340 380 0 
			 Practice nurse 19,500 2,430 2,020 2,110 2,410 2,230 2,780 3,590 1,930 0 
			
			 Total unqualified 19,230 2,530 1,700 2,530 3,230 2,080 2,280 3,700 1,180 0 
			 Nursery nurse 740 90 140 140 120 100 30 50 60 0 
			 Nursing assistant/auxiliary 18,490 2,440 1,560 2,390 3,120 1,970 2,250 3,650 1,120 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	Figures exclude learners and agency staff
	1996 Practice nurse data collected as at 30 October and 1997 to 1997 Practice nurse data collected as at 1 October
	Due to the new regional office boundaries in 1999 the 1997 and 1998 figures are estimated regional splits
	The community areas of work that we can separately identify are community psychiatry, community learning disabilities and community services
	* five or less and greater than zero
	Sources:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Mental Health

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address the shortage of mental health beds.

Jacqui Smith: The NHS Plan referred to the creation of almost 500 extra secure psychiatric beds and 320 24-hour staffed beds by April 2001. These targets were achieved. Work is on-going to meet the further NHS Plan commitment to develop 200 long-term secure beds by 2004.
	It is also important to provide alternatives to in-patient care so that patients can benefit from appropriate care and treatment in the least restrictive environment consistent with their needs, including in their own homes where this is clinically appropriate and preferred by the patient. The NHS Plan contained a commitment to create 335 crisis resolution teams, 50 early intervention teams and a further 50 assertive outreach teams by April 2004 so that patients can benefit from these alternatives to in-patient care. We envisage that crisis resolution teams alone will treat around 100,000 people every year who would otherwise have to be admitted to hospital.

Mental Health

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will conduct a national audit of mental health beds.

Jacqui Smith: Information about the availability and usage of mental health beds is already collected through annual returns obtained by the Department from providers of services. The returns are made on a financial year basis and the latest year for which data are available is 2000–01. Figures are taken from the annual Korner return KHO3—"Bed Availability and Occupancy". A more detailed national audit of mental health beds would not be appropriate at this stage because we are in a phase of rapid change. Local services are currently engaged in the implementation of new service models such as early intervention, assertive outreach and crisis resolution, which aim to provide alternatives to in-patient care. Forthcoming departmental guidance on acute in-patient mental health care will advise local services to map their strengths and weaknesses and to plan accordingly.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 958W, what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) the £50 million allocated to health authorities and (b) the £35 million allocated to local authorities has been spent on child and adolescent mental health services; and if he will make a statement as to the effectiveness of ring fencing of the allocations.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 March 2002
	The funding for health authorities is now in their baseline allocations and is not specifically audited. However we expect health authorities, and their successors, to continue to devote these funds to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The local authority grant is a specific grant scheme and is audited to ensure that the grants are expended on CAMHS in line with the conditions of the grant.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young offender institutions will have no mental health in-reach services by 2004.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 March 2002
	The exact distribution of new mental health in-reach services to 2004 has not yet been finalised, but young offender institutions are being treated as a priority for the development of these services.

Cervical Cancer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce human papilloma virus screening to test for cervical cancer.

Yvette Cooper: As yet, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing as a primary screening tool. The health technology assessment (HTA) review of research into HPV testing, published in September 1999, concluded that the evidence might support testing for HPV only in certain situations, such as the management of borderline screening test results.
	A Government funded pilot study of HPV and liquid based cytology testing as triage for women with mild or borderline abnormalities began in April 2001. The HPV arm of the pilot will end in September 2002. Analysis of the data will begin in October 2002 and a report of the evaluation of the pilot will be submitted in early 2003.

BSE

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who have consumed meat from the offspring of BSE-infected cows since 1 November 2001.

Yvette Cooper: No estimates are available, but the number of cases of BSE arising in cattle born since August 1996, and considered to be attributable to maternal transmission, is below expectations. In addition, certain key control mechanisms help protect consumers if there is a failure of the controls which exclude BSE offspring from the food chain. These include the ban on specified risk material from being used for human consumption and the over-thirty-months rule which prohibits older animals more likely to harbour infectivity from entering the food chain.

Cancer Treatment

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities that (a) have and (b) do not have the facilities to administer radiotherapy for cancer patients.

Yvette Cooper: All health authorities commission radiotherapy services for cancer patients. These services may be provided from a radiotherapy centre located within that health authority itself, or one nearby.
	
		Health authorities with radiotherapy centres located within its boundaries
		
			 Area  
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire Addenbrooke's NHST 
			 Norfolk Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHST 
			 North Essex Essex Rivers Healthcare NHST 
			 South Essex Southend Hospital NHST 
			 Suffolk Ipswich Hospital NHST 
			 Hertfordshire West Hertfordshire Hospitals MHST 
			 Barking and Havering Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHST 
			 Barnet Enfield and Haringey North Middlesex University Hospital NHST 
			 Camden and Islington (2) Royal Free Hampstead NHST 
			  University College London Hospitals NHSTCH 
			 Ealing Hammersmith and Hounslow Hammersmith Hospitals NHST 
			 East London and the City Barts and the London NHST 
			 Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Royal Marsden NHST 
			 Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust 
			 Manchester Christie's Hospital NHST 
			 North-west Lancashire Preston Acute Hospitals NHST 
			 Wirral Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHST 
			 East Riding and Hull Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHST 
			 Leeds Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHST 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHST 
			 North Cumbria North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHST 
			 Tees South Tees Hospitals NHST 
			 Berkshire Royal Berks and Battle Hospitals NHST 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Brighton Health Care NHST 
			 IoW, Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire Portsmouth Health Care NHST 
			 Northamptonshire Northampton General Hospital NHST 
			 Oxfordshire Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHST 
			 Southampton and South-west Hampshire Southampton University Hospitals NHST 
			 West Kent Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHST 
			 West Surrey Royal Surrey County Hospital NHST 
			 Avon (2) United Bristol Healthcare NHST 
			  Royal United Hospital Bath NHST 
			 Cornwall and IoS Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust 
			 Dorset Poole Hospitals NHST 
			 Gloucestershire East Gloucestershire NHST 
			 North and East Devon Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHST 
			 South and West Devon (2) Plymouth Hospitals NHST 
			  South Devon Healthcare NHST 
			 Leicestershire University Hospitals of Leicester NHST 
			 Lincolnshire United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHST 
			 Nottingham Nottingham City Hospital NHST 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHST 
			 Southern Derbyshire Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHST 
			 Birmingham University Hospital Birmingham NHST 
			 Coventry University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHST 
			 North Staffordshire North Staffordshire Hospital NHST 
			 Shropshire Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHST 
			 Wolverhampton The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHST 
		
	
	Health authorities without radiotherapy centres located in its boundaries.
	Bedfordshire
	Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich
	Brent and Harrow
	Croydon
	Hillingdon
	Kingston and Richmond
	Merton Sutton and Wandsworth
	Redbridge and Waltham Forest
	Bury and Rochdale
	East Lancashire
	Liverpool
	Morecambe Bay
	North Cheshire
	St. Helens and Knowsley
	Salford and Trafford
	Sefton
	South Lancashire
	South Cheshire
	Stockport
	West Pennine
	Wigan and Bolton
	Bradford
	Calderdale and Kirklees
	County Durham and Darlington
	Gateshead and South Tyneside
	North Yorkshire
	Northumberland
	Sunderland
	Wakefield
	North and Mid Hampshire
	West Sussex
	Somerset
	Wiltshire
	Barnsley
	Doncaster
	Buckinghamshire
	East Kent
	East Surrey
	North Nottinghamshire
	North Derbyshire
	Rotherham
	South Humber
	Dudley
	Herefordshire
	Sandwell
	Solihull
	South Staffordshire
	Walsall
	Warwickshire
	Worcestershire.

Cancer Treatment

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of cancer patients are prescribed anti-blood infection drugs to treat neutropenia contracted while undergoing chemotherapy;
	(2)  what proportion of cancer patients are receiving reduced chemotherapy doses to avoid the onset of neutropenia;
	(3)  what (a) the average cost per patient and (b) the total cost has been over the last 12 months to each health authority of prescribing Neupogen to patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available centrally.

Medicines Control

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2002, Official Report, column 1242W, on medicines control, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) issues of the articles relating to inappropriate use and overuse of medication in the publication "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance"; and what articles have been produced in respect of overuse and inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication in care settings.

Yvette Cooper: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and its advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) have published the following articles in the MCA's bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" alerting health professionals to the inappropriate use of medication. These articles include the following:
	
		
			  Volume 
		
		
			 Accidental overdose with Alfacalcidol (one-alpha drops) February 2001 Vol. 27 
			 Reminder: Methotrexate safe prescribing and dispensing September 2000 Vol. 26 
			 Medication error: Potential for confusing Humalog and Humalog Mix 25 May 2000 Vol. 26 
			 Reminder: Naloxone in opioid overdose May 1997 Vol. 23 
			 Potential for confusion between Lamictal and Lamisil December 1997 Vol. 23 
			 Reminder: Paracetamol toxicity in overdose November 1995 Vol. 21 
		
	
	The MCA and CSM have not produced any articles specifically relating to the overuse and inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication in care settings. However the following articles in relation to antipsychotics have been published in "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" and encourage dose titration of the antipsychotics to help prevent adverse drug reactions:
	
		
			  Volume 
		
		
			 QT interval prolongation with antipsychotics February 2001 Vol. 27 
			 Drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval March 1996 Vol. 22 
			 Cardiac arrhythmias with pimozide (Orap) February 1995 Vol. 21 
			 Neuroleptic sensitivity in patients with dementia May 1994 Vol. 20 
			 Drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions November 1994 Vol. 20 
			 Convulsions may occur in patients receiving clozapine June 1991 No. 31 Vol. 17 
			 Cardiotoxic effects of pimozide August 1990 No. 29 Vol. 16 
		
	
	Copies of all these articles have been sent to the Library.

Social Work Training

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many application packs for social workers training packs were sent out following the launch of the social worker recruitment campaign.

Jacqui Smith: One of the aims of the social work recruitment campaign is to increase the number of people applying for social work training by 5,000 by 2004. As part of the campaign, the Department, has made available two publications, including "Careers in Social Work", which outlines the role of the social worker including the training required. 12,172 have been sent out by the helpline.

Maternity Service Liaison Committee

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how maternity service liaison committees will fit into the new NHS structure.

Yvette Cooper: Anecdotal and research evidence during the past 10 years has shown that maternity service liaison committees have proved very effective in influencing and shaping maternity service provision. In future primary care trusts will be the local health organisations responsible for working with maternity service liaison committees.

Air Rifles and Pistols

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accidents resulting from air (a) rifles and (b) pistols have been reported since 1996.

Yvette Cooper: The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) system does not have definitive cause codes for accidents resulting from air rifles and pistols separately. The table shows the number of admissions with accidental firearm-related cause codes for the year 2000–01.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 W32 Handgun discharge 48 
			 W33 Rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge 67 
			 W34 Discharge from other and unspecified firearms 737 
			 Y22 Handgun discharge undetermined intent 6 
			 Y23 Rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge undetermined intent 13 
			 Y24 Other and unspecified firearm discharge undetermined intent 44 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The cause code is a supplementary ICD10 code, which indicates the nature of the condition.
	2. Data are for 2000–01 and is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Air Rifles and Pistols

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fatalities have been recorded as resulting from misuse of air rifles and pistols since 1996.

Yvette Cooper: Fatalities attributed specifically to the misuse of air rifles and pistols are not collected centrally.
	Fatalities attributed to various unspecified firearms and explosives are as follows.
	
		
			 Year E9179 E9554 E9654 E9854 Total 
		
		
			 1996 15 50 19 10 94 
			 1997 21 55 22 3 101 
			 1998 16 46 9 10 81 
			 1999 11 40 10 7 68 
			 2000 13 46 22 11 92 
		
	
	Key:
	E9179: Striking against or struck accidentally by objects or persons
	E9554: Suicide and self-inflicted injury
	E9654: Assault
	E9854: Other accidental or deliberate injury
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Air Rifles and Pistols

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of physical impairment that can result from injury by an air (a) rifle and (b) pistol.

Yvette Cooper: The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) system does not have definitive cause codes for accidents resulting from air rifles and pistols separately. It is also not possible to accurately determine the extent of physical impairment from injuries of this sort.

Exercise Referral Schemes

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health since the publication of the national standards for GP exercise referral schemes in April 2001, how many exercise referral programmes have been offered by (a) GPs, (b) primary care nurses and (c) registered fitness professionals in each health authority in the UK.

Yvette Cooper: The National Quality Assurance Framework published last year aims to improve the quality of existing schemes and help the development of new ones. The Department does not keep a national register of practices which offer these schemes. However, details of existing schemes are held locally by health authorities or local authorities.
	The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease requires that all NHS bodies will have agreed and be contributing to the delivery of a local programme of effective policies on increasing physical activity by April 2002. Exercise referral schemes can form an element in the delivery of these programmes. These schemes also contribute to the achievement of milestones relating to the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease within primary care, and cardiac rehabilitation.

Cancelled Operations

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in 2001 in the (a) Royal Shrewsbury, (b) Princess Royal, (c) Robert Jones and (d) Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic hospitals.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is shown in the table
	
		Number of operations cancelled during 2001 in acute NHS trusts in Shropshire
		
			 Hospital Number 
		
		
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital 423 
			 Princess Royal Hospital 80 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital(51) 67 
		
	
	(51) Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital National Health Service Trust is one hospital.

Radiation Risk

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems the National Radiological Protection Board has in place to update their radiation risk models; when the risk models were last reviewed; and when the risk models were last updated.

Yvette Cooper: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) conducts a rolling programme of research and scientific review in order to update advice on the health effects of ionising radiation and the appropriate risk models for assessing these effects. NRPB has issued formal advice in the documents of the NRPB (Vol. 4(4), 1993; Vol 6(1), 1995). The NRPB's advisory group on ionising radiation will report shortly on the risks of leukaemia.
	Scientific reviews and reports on risk models are also undertaken by NRPB staff in the context of a United Kingdom input to the work of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and a committee of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. The UNSCEAR 2000 report on radiation effects and risk models included input from NRPB staff acting as consultants. This report represents the current international scientific consensus on the health effects of ionising radiation.

Radiation Risk

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the National Radiological Protection Board's policy is on the radiation risk from (a) external and (b) internal low level radiation; when this policy was developed; and when it is next subject to review.

Yvette Cooper: The policy of the National Radiological Protection Board is to provide advice on the health effects of exposure to external and internal radiations which is based on the totality of relevant scientific information. These sources of information include assessment of doses to critical tissues in the body, epidemiological (human health) investigations and knowledge of the fundamental biology of radiation action on cells and tissues. In circumstances where direct epidemiological information is lacking, judgments are developed using knowledge of doses to different tissues, the biological effectiveness of different radiations and the relative radiation sensitivity of different tissues.
	Risk modelling procedures used by NRPB have been developed over many years often in conjunction with international bodies such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).
	Current risk modelling procedures are based essentially on the 1990 Recommendations of ICRP and subsequent advice published by NRPB (Documents of the NRPB, Vol 4(4), 1993 and Vol 6(1), 1995). Scientific review of the data and procedures for assessing the health effects of external and internal radiations is an on-going process. The general policy of NRPB is to review and revise these procedures in the light of accruing scientific knowledge and therefore no specific date for revision may be given.

HIV/AIDS

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how mainstreaming of HIV prevention and HIV treatment and care allocations into primary care trust budgets will take account of different levels of need in each PCT area.

Yvette Cooper: Health authority and primary care trust allocations are informed by weighted capitation targets. From 2002–03, targets are adjusted for HIV treatment and care and prevention using the latest epidemiology. This will ensure the uniquely skewed distribution of HIV infection in England is reflected in targets for future years.

Home Births

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times in the most recent year for which data are available home births have been refused, broken down by health authorities or trusts.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Abortion

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people seeking termination of pregnancy at NHS clinics in the UK in the last 12 months were foreign nationals visiting the UK; and if such requests are met free of charge.

Yvette Cooper: In 2000, 73 terminations of pregnancy were performed on non-UK residents in NHS hospitals in England and Wales. 2001 abortion data for England and Wales are not available until later in the year. Abortions performed in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Executive.
	No data are held centrally on nationality or whether the treatment was free.

Myopia

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where laser eye treatment for correction of myopia is available through the NHS; and what criteria are used to decide whether it should be provided.

Hazel Blears: Laser surgery for the correction of myopia is not available under the national health service. Refractive errors can be successfully corrected by spectacles and contact lenses and optical vouchers are available to children and people on low incomes to help with the costs of these appliances.

NHS Scrutiny

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what formal means councillors and committees of shire district councils will be involved in the scrutiny of bodies within the health service after 1 April.

Jacqui Smith: The Health and Social Care Act 2001 gives new powers to local government overview and scrutiny committees to scrutinise the national health service. Local authorities with these new powers will be those with social services responsibilities: specifically county councils, unitary authorities and London borough councils.
	We recognise the important role that district councils will play in ensuring effective scrutiny of local health services and will be encouraging through guidance the full involvement of district councils in the scrutiny process.
	A consultation on the proposed arrangements is currently under way and we would encourage all local authorities to feed their views into this process.

Health Authority Expenditure

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) England and (b) each health authority area the expenditure on health by weighted head of population in 2001–02.

John Hutton: The information requested will not become available until the 2001–02 national health service accounts have been completed, submitted to the Department, and subjected to audit. They are expected to be available in late autumn 2002.

Genetics

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish a green paper on genetics; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his speech at the conference "Genetics and Health—A Decade of Opportunity", reaffirmed his commitment to the Green Paper on genetics being published later this year. No formal publication date has been announced, but good progress is being made with six meetings of the advisory panel and a successful conference to inform the Green Paper having taken place.

Sexual Health

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will implement his sexual health strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: An action plan outlining implementation of the sexual health and HIV strategy will be published in the spring. In addition, we have started to prepare for implementation by asking health authorities to undertake a baseline review and by seeking expressions of interest in chlamydia screening. Bids for chlamydia screening have now been received and are being considered. The Health Development Agency review of what works for local HIV/STI prevention will be available later this year and a new campaign to increase awareness of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) and how to prevent them is planned for the autumn.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 30 November, 2 January, 29 January and 26 February relating to correspondence from her constituent Mr. Charles Williams of Hoddesdon.

John Hutton: A reply was sent on 1 March.

Correspondence

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the letter of 8 February from the hon. member for Bexhill and Battle, regarding a constituent requiring radiotherapy for cancer.

Hazel Blears: A letter from the hon. Member, dated 7 February, was received in my Department on 11 February 2002. A reply was sent to him on 4 March.

Malnutrition

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1155W, on nutrition, how many episodes of hospital inpatients with a primary diagnosis relating to malnutrition there were, broken down by (a) age, (b) health authority and (c) region, in the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The tables show a count of episodes of care where the main diagnosis was malnutrition by age (Table 1) and regional office area of residence (Table 2). Figures for health authority of residence have not been given as the numbers are very small and subject to variation.
	
		Table 1—Finished consultant episodes for main diagnosis of malnutrition by age. National health service hospitals, England 1996–97 to 2000–01
		
			 Age 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 0–4 13 13 6 11 17 
			 5–14 14 13 15 6 6 
			 15–44 78 62 86 68 47 
			 45–64 62 82 82 87 73 
			 65–74 34 39 59 46 53 
			 75–84 62 55 50 67 65 
			 85 and Over 34 36 38 34 45 
			 Total 297 300 336 319 306 
		
	
	
		Table 2—Finished consultant episodes for main diagnosis of malnutrition by regional office area of residence. NHS hospitals, England 1996–97 to 2000–01
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 
		
		
			 Northern and Yorkshire 32 55 43 
			 Trent 28 17 40 
			 Anglia and Oxford 27 10 29 
			 North Thames 28 53 53 
			 South Thames 31 30 29 
			 South and West 62 43 69 
			 West Midlands 50 45 36 
			 North West 37 40 33 
			 Wales 0 0 1 
			 Foreign 0 1 1 
			 Not known 2 6 2 
			  
			 Total 297 300 336 
		
	
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Northern and Yorkshire 31 28 
			 Trent 49 27 
			 West Midlands 30 30 
			 North West 42 47 
			 Eastern 41 42 
			 London 47 50 
			 South East 43 39 
			 South West 33 40 
			 Wales 0 0 
			 Foreign 2 2 
			 Not known 1 1 
			  
			 Total 319 306 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
	2. The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the HES data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Data for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data; 1998–99 to 2000–01 are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Patient Numbers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients there were in hospital (a) in total, (b) aged 65 and under, (c) aged between 65 and 75 and (d) aged over 75 by (i) region and (ii) health authority in the second quarter of 2001–02; and what the delayed discharge rate for each age group was as a percentage of the number of patients in hospital in each health authority and region.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Information is not collected centrally in the form requested.

Voluntary Organisations (Definition)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define voluntary organisation as used in the documents "A Cancer Plan" and "Implementation of the Cancer Plan".

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 28 February 2002
	For the purposes of the "NHS Cancer Plan" and "The NHS Cancer Plan—Making Progress" a voluntary organisation is a body which is not a public or local authority whose activities are carried out not for profit.

NHS Budget

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget is accounted for by (a) research, (b) training and (c) education.

John Hutton: holding answer 28 February 2002
	6.8 per cent. of planned total national health service net expenditure has been set aside for research, training and education in 2001–02.

Heart Surgery

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart operations were carried out in England and Wales in each of the last five years, broken down by major categories of heart operation; and what comparative figures he has collated for other OECD countries.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The number of heart operations carried out in the national health service in England during the last five years rose by 30 per cent. The figures are as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996–97  
			 CABG 22,700 
			 PTCA 17,045 
			 Other 132,080 
			 Total 162,186 
			   
			 1997–98  
			 CABG 22,129 
			 PTCA 17,291 
			 Other 131,343 
			 Total 161,508 
			   
			 1998–99  
			 CABG 23,996 
			 PTCA 19,294 
			 Other 148,011 
			 Total 191,301 
			   
			 1999–2000  
			 CABG 23,698 
			 PTCA 22,341 
			 Other 154,199 
			 Total 200,238 
			   
			 2000–01  
			 CABG 24,387 
			 PTCA 25,698 
			 Other 161,891 
			 Total 211,976 
		
	
	Figures from other Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries are not available on a comparable basis. Information about heart operations undertaken in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly.

Meat Imports

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigation he has made into carcases being imported into the UK with spinal cords still in place; how many of these came from countries (a) with and (b) without records of BSE infection; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 28 February 2002
	I am advised on matters of food safety by the Food Standards Agency.
	On each occasion where consignments of imported carcase meat have been found with remnants of spinal cord still attached, the matter has been vigorously pursued with the chief veterinary officer of the European Union member state of origin, and with the European Commission. Where the incident has revealed a systematic problem, the FSA has pressed for firm action at the exporting plant. In eight cases, this has led to plant licences being suspended or certain operations halted until the authorities have been satisfied that the problems have been rectified.
	All EU member states involved in these incidents have reported BSE cases during 2001. Further information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Number of:  
			 Exporting country consignments where spinal cord found by UK veterinary inspectors(52) reported BSE cases (2001) 
		
		
			 Germany 8 125 
			 Netherlands 6 20 
			 Ireland 4 242 
			 Belgium 2 46 
			 Spain 2 82 
			 Italy 1 48 
			 Denmark 1 6 
		
	
	(52) 1 January 2001 to 26 February 2002

PFI

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which PFI projects are at Outline Business Case stage within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The table shows schemes with a capital value of £20 million or greater which are currently developing Outline Business Cases (OBCs) with the intention of going on to tender under the Private Finance Initiative. Information is not collected centrally on schemes below £20 million, which do not have approved OBCs.
	
		
			  DOH regional office  Scheme name Value (£ million) 
		
		
			 Eastern Peterborough 135 
			 Eastern Chelmsford 80 
			 Eastern Colchester 79 
			 London Whipps Cross 184 
			 London Chase Farm 41 
			 London North Middlesex 73 
			 London Lewisham 47 
			 London Paddington Basin 460 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Bradford 116 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Wakefield 164 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Hull 39 
			 North West Salford 114 
			 North West St. Helens 211 
			 North West Tameside and Glossop 41 
			 South East Brighton 25 
			 South East East Kent 102 
			 South East Tunbridge Wells 175 
			 South East Oxford 28 
			 South East Southampton 52 
			 South West Bristol 104 
			 South West Plymouth 101 
			 South West Torbay 65 
			 Trent Leicester 286 
			 Trent C Notts/Kingsmill 66 
			 West Midlands Walsall 43 
			 West Midlands Birmingham 306 
			 West Midlands North Staffs 224 
			 West Midlands Wolverhampton 110

National Lottery Funding

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money from the National Lottery was spent on the NHS and NHS projects in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	Of the lottery distributors, the New Opportunities Fund supports projects in the fields of health, education and the environment.
	In the period from 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002, NOF funded a number of health related projects. Approximately £90 million was spent on 115 healthy living centres; £39.75 million was spent on projects to help in the treatment of coronary heart disease and cancer, including funding for 27 cardiac angiography machines and 16 MRI scanners. Finally, £1.4 million was provided to fund multi-viewers to view breast screening X-rays.

Congestion Charging

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the consultation on congestion charging for essential workers which concluded on 18 January.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The proposed congestion charging scheme for central London is a matter for the Mayor of London. In his statement of 26 February he explained his reasons for deciding to proceed with the scheme and his position on exemptions, including those for essential workers. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Matrons

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many modern matrons are in post in each (a) region and (b) health authority.

John Hutton: This information is being collected and will be available shortly.

Pedestrian Deaths (Children)

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child pedestrians from social class (a) five and (b) one have been killed in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Ms Oona King, dated 4 March 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning how many child pedestrians from Social Class (a) five and (b) one have been killed in each of the last five years. (39967)
	The figures requested are given in the table below:
	
		Number of deaths occurring to child(53) pedestrians(54) in social class(55) one (SCI) and five (SC V), England and Wales, calendar years 1996 to 2000(56)
		
			  Calendar Year Fathers in professional occupations (SC I)  Fathers in unskilled occupations (SC V) 
		
		
			 1996 3 2 
			 1997 7 5 
			 1998 8 3 
			 1996 3 6 
			 2000 5 2 
		
	
	(53) Children were classified as deaths occurring to persons aged 0 to 15.
	(54) Defined as deaths where the underlying cause indicated that a pedestrian was involved in a land transport accident. Deaths from land transport accidents were defined using codes E800-E829 from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision.
	(55) Registrar General's Social Class based on occupation. Father's Social Class is used for children under 16.
	(56) Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.

Health Authority Funding

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the funding per head of population for each health authority in England in 2001–02 and the expected level in 2002–03.

John Hutton: Health authority allocations per weighted and unweighted head of population for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are shown in the table.
	
		(£) 
		
			   Allocation per weighted head of population  Allocation per unweighted head of population  
			 Health authority  2001–02 2002–03 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Avon 727 809 684 751 
			 Barking and Havering 746 814 778 849 
			 Barnet(57) 716 n/a 703 n/a 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey(57) n/a 798 n/a 846 
			 Barnsley 722 808 795 887 
			 Bedfordshire 706 775 645 714 
			 Berkshire 711 776 626 685 
			 Bexley and Greenwich(57) 789 n/a 800 n/a 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich(57) n/a 858 n/a 856 
			 Birmingham 745 821 784 867 
			 Bradford 737 809 767 842 
			 Brent and Harrow 738 843 768 889 
			 Bromley(57) 747 n/a 717 n/a 
			 Buckinghamshire 715 784 617 677 
			 Bury and Rochdale 740 817 775 852 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 743 809 755 820 
			 Cambridgeshire 713 791 632 693 
			 Camden and Islington 750 867 1,016 1,204 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 751 829 752 827 
			 County Durham 730 804 808 884 
			 Coventry 733 809 757 834 
			 Croydon 727 797 707 791 
			 Doncaster 751 826 803 881 
			 Dorset 757 832 742 813 
			 Dudley 735 813 709 780 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 723 817 800 922 
			 East and North Hertfordshire(57) 728 n/a 658 n/a 
			 East Kent 758 834 777 854 
			 East Lancashire 742 824 810 895 
			 East London and The City 688 794 901 1,041 
			 East Riding 754 828 741 814 
			 East Surrey 751 846 693 771 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove 758 829 784 862 
			 Enfield and Haringey(57) 729 n/a 783 n/a 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 745 823 849 934 
			 Gloucestershire 763 834 695 758 
			 Herefordshire 740 814 693 759 
			 Hertfordshire(57) n/a 815 n/a 736 
			 Hillingdon 729 824 727 795 
			 Isle of Wight(57) 795 n/a 846 n/a 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire(57) n/a 824 n/a 799 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 659 757 831 981 
			 Kingston and Richmond 742 810 705 771 
			 Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham 737 852 905 1,076 
			 Leeds 753 832 759 838 
			 Leicestershire 719 789 660 724 
			 Lincolnshire 736 811 717 785 
			 Liverpool 767 846 890 979 
			 Manchester 765 842 902 1,002 
			 Merton Sutton and Wandsworth 762 827 791 881 
			 Morecambe Bay 771 851 776 852 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 759 834 847 928 
			 Norfolk 732 808 698 767 
			 North and East Devon 745 821 724 795 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 736 807 615 678 
			 North Cheshire 755 839 763 839 
			 North Cumbria 742 820 736 810 
			 North Derbyshire 743 823 734 809 
			 North Essex 728 797 674 744 
			 North Nottinghamshire 734 814 739 815 
			 North Staffordshire 734 815 776 857 
			 North West Lancashire 751 832 826 911 
			 North Yorkshire 730 802 683 749 
			 Northamptonshire 738 807 674 739 
			 Northumberland 748 821 755 824 
			 Nottingham 731 806 727 799 
			 Oxfordshire 712 788 606 676 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire(57) 739 n/a 701 n/a 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 761 843 783 884 
			 Rotherham 739 822 784 868 
			 Salford and Trafford 761 839 823 905 
			 Sandwell 743 820 803 883 
			 Sefton 774 861 838 925 
			 Sheffield 764 838 809 884 
			 Shropshire 729 803 681 748 
			 Solihull 742 817 685 751 
			 Somerset 741 813 695 757 
			 South and West Devon 757 830 756 826 
			 South Cheshire 747 830 704 774 
			 South Derbyshire 721 797 694 765 
			 South Essex 726 789 692 756 
			 South Humber 758 839 754 836 
			 South Lancashire 746 829 715 789 
			 South Staffordshire 726 804 656 722 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 738 807 690 757 
			 St. Helen's and Knowsley 739 822 819 906 
			 Stockport 732 812 713 785 
			 Suffolk 743 814 667 730 
			 Sunderland 740 833 839 940 
			 Tees 739 808 802 878 
			 Wakefield 743 818 768 843 
			 Walsall 726 808 772 858 
			 Warwickshire 744 820 684 750 
			 West Hertfordshire(57) 735 n/a 686 n/a 
			 West Kent 741 817 672 741 
			 West Pennine 727 809 780 865 
			 West Surrey 749 839 671 745 
			 West Sussex 733 821 718 790 
			 Wigan and Bolton 718 799 777 858 
			 Wiltshire 739 812 655 717 
			 Wirral 770 853 834 919 
			 Wolverhampton 737 814 793 875 
			 Worcestershire 737 810 661 724 
			  
			 England total 738 817 738 817 
		
	
	(57) There were health authority mergers on 1 April 2001